



Class J3X_L3l1 

Book. -C\ fe* 

Copyright^ . 



COPYRIGHT DKPOSHV 






L 



VISIONS 



OF 



HEAVEN AND HELL. 



What Men and Women Claim to Have Seen 
In tlie World Beyond. 



Gleaned from Various Works 

BY 

A. H. GOTTSCHALL 



ADDRESS 

The Christian Union, 

250 HUMMEL ST., 

HARRISBURG, PENN'A. 

1909. 



f-£ ]Q O 



Copyright, 1908, 

BY 

AMOS H. GOTTSCHALL. 



€'CIA25622T 



PREFACE. 



■" He hath said, which heard the words of God, 
which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a 
trance." — Numb. 24 4. " But while they made ready, 
he fell into a trance, And saw Heaven opened. " — Acts 
10:10,11. " Even while I prayed in the temple, I was 
in a trance; And saw Him (Jesus) saying unto me, 
Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem : for 
they will not receive thy testimony concerning me." — 
Acts 22:17,18. 

It is certainly not contrary to revealed truth, as 
found in the Word of God, or to history, or to in- 
stances personally known, to believe that the Lord has 
seen fit to deal with His people, at times, through vi- 
sions. The three quotations above, referring to Ba- 
laam, Peter, and Paul amply prove this, while the vi- 
sions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and other prophets, as 
well as those of John the Revelator, demonstrate be- 
yond a doubt, God's manifestations in this particular. 

What the inspiring cause of the experiences related 
in this book was, is a matter we cannot determine for 
the reader. But we are inclined to believe that what 
these people claim to have seen and heard was revealed 
to their inner or spirit consciousness by God, or by 
other spirit or angelic intelligences from a sphere higher 
than that of Earth. All who read these accounts with 
candor must be deeply impressed with their solemnity. 

What a hallowed, quickening influence comes to the 
soul while perusing the narrators' testimony of what 
they saw and heard of the beauties of Heaven and its 
happy, glorious inhabitants, and what sadness and awe 
fall upon the heart when reading of the terrors of 
Hell and the anguish of the unfortunates consigned to 
its gloom. 



4 PREFACE. 

Some of these accounts have been considerably con- 
densed by omitting portions, without using asterisks 
where matter was left out; otherwise they could not 
have been crowded into a work of this size. The vi- 
sions of six different persons are given, that of three 
men and three women, living in widely separated parts 
of the World, and at widely different periods of time. 
The similarity of the testimony of these six different 
people as to what they saw and heard is singular and 
impressive, and would seem to be a proof of the reality 
and truthfulness of the visions. 

Several other similar experiences could have been 
added. John Wesley, in his Journal of August, 1746, 
vol. 1, and also in his Journal of August, 1759, gives 
an account of people under his own observation (evi- 
dently among his own flock) who had visions of Heaven 
and Hell. In describing the appearance of one of these 
persons- while in the trance state, Wesley says: the 
" face showed an unspeakable mixture of reverence 
and love. I do not know whether I ever saw a human 
face look so beautiful. " 



WILLIAM TENNENT'S VISION. 



The Life of William Tennent (Presbyterian minis- 
ter) from which this account is taken, was published 
by Robert Carter & Bros., New York. The author of 
the memoirs gives the following account of Tennent 
having been three days in a trance : He became pros- 
trated with a fever, and by degrees sunk under it, until, 
to appearances, he died. In laying him out, one felt a 
slight tremor under the left arm, though the body was 
cold and stiff. The time for the funeral arrived, and 
the people were assembled. But a physician, Tennent's 
friend, plead that the funeral might be delayed. 

During the interval various efforts were made to 
discover signs of life, but none appeared save the 
slight tremor. For three days and nights his friend, 
the physician, never left him. Again the people met to 
bury him, but could not even then obtain the doctor's 
consent. For one hour more he plead ; when that was 
gone, he craved half an hour more. That being ex- 
pired, he implored a stay of fifteen minutes, at the ex- 
piration of which Tennent opened his eyes. 

The following brief account is given in Mr. Ten- 
nent's own language, and was related to a brother min- 
ister : " As to dying, I found my fever increase, and I 
became weaker and weaker, until all at once I found 
myself in Heaven, as I thought. I saw no shape as to 
the Deity, but glory all unutterable. I can say as Paul 
did, I heard and saw things unutterable. I saw a great 
multitude before His glory, apparently in the height, 
of bliss, singing most melodiously. I was transported 
with my own situation, viewing all my troubles ended, 
and my rest and glory begun, and was about to join 
the great and happy multitude, when one came to me, 
looked me full in the face, laid his hand on my shoulder, 
and said, ' You must go back.' " 

(5) 



O VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" These words went through me ; nothing could have 
shocked me more. I cried out, ' Lord, must I go back V 
With this shock, I opened my eyes in this World. 
When I saw I was in this World I fainted, then came 
to, and fainted again several times, as one probably 
would naturally have done in so weak a situation." 

" For three years the sense of divine things continued 
so great, and everything else appeared so completely 
vain, when compared to Heaven, that, could I have had 
the World for stooping down for it, I believe I should 
not have thought of doing it." 

To the writer of his memoirs, Mr. Tennent, concern- 
ing this experience, once said : " I found myself, in 
an instant, in another state of existence, under the di- 
rection of a superior being, who ordered me to follow 
him. I was accordingly wafted along, I know not how, 
till I beheld, at a distance, an ineffable glory, the im- 
pression of which, on my mind, it is impossible to com- 
municate to mortal man." 

" Such was the effect on my mind of what I had seen 
and heard that, if it be possible for a human being to 
live entirely above the world, and the things of it, for 
sometime afterward, I was that person. The ravishing 
sounds of the songs and hallelujahs that I heard, and 
the very words that were uttered, were not out of my 
ears when awake for at least three years. All the 
kingdoms of the Earth were, in my sight, as nothing 
and vanity. So great were my ideas of heavenly glory 
that nothing which did not in some measure relate to 
it could command my serious attention." 

Mr. Tennent lived a number of years after this 
event, and died in the triumphs of a living faith, March 
8, 1777, aged seventy-one years, his mortal remains 
being interred at his chapel in Freehold, New Jersey. 
He was an able, faithful preacher, and the divine pres- 
ence with him was frequently manifested in his public 
and private ministrations. In personal appearance he 
was tall, erect, and of spare visage, with bright, pierc- 
ing eyes, and grave, solemn countenance. 



MISS D— 'S VISION. 



The following account was related and vouched for 
by Robert Young, the missionary. It was published in 
1841, and later by different publishers : While residing 
in a British colony as a Christian missionary, I was 

called one evening to visit Miss D , who was said 

to be dying, Mrs. Young, by whom she was met 
weekly for religious instruction, feeling a deep interest 
in her spiritual welfare, accompanied me to her resi- 
dence. We found her in the chamber of a neat little 
cottage, exceedingly ill, but confiding in the merits of 
Jesus, and, after spending some time with her in coiir 
versation and prayer, we commended her to God, and 
took our departure, without the least hope of seeing 
her again in this life. Soon after we left she seemed 
to die, but as the usual signs of death, which so rapidly 
develop themselves in that country, did not appear, her 
friends anxiously waited to see the end. 

She was watched with great interest both night and 
day, and, after having been in this state for nearly a 

week, opened her eyes and said, " Mr. C is dead." 

Her attendants, thinking that she was under the in- 
fluence of delirium, replied that she was mistaken, as 
he was not only alive but well. " O, no !" said she, 
" he is dead ; for a short time ago, as 

I PASSED THE GATES OF HELL, 

I saw him descend into the pit, and the blue flame cover 

him. Mr. B is also dead, for he arrived at Heaven 

just as I was leaving that happy place; and I saw its 
beautiful gates thrown wide open to receive him, and 
heard the host of Heaven shout, ' Welcome, weary 
pilgrim !' " 

(7) 



8 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

Mr. C was a neighbor, but a very wicked per- 
son, and Mr. B , who lived at no great distance, 

many years had been a member of the Church of God. 
The parties who heard Miss D 's startling and con- 
fident statements immediately sent to make inquiries 
about the two individuals alluded to, and found, to 
their utter astonishment, that the former had dropped 
down dead about half an hour before whilst in the act 
t)f tying his shoe; and that about the same time the 
latter had suddenly passed into the Eternal World. 
For the truth of these facts I do solemnly vouch. 

She then went on to tell them where she had been, 
and what she had seen and heard. After being suf- 
ficiently recovered to leave the house, she paid us a 
visit, and Mrs. Young, as well as myself, heard from 
her own lips the following account of what she had 
passed through. She informed us that at the time 
she was supposed to 'die, a celestial being conducted 
her into the invisible world, and mysteriously un- 
veiled to her the realities of Eternity. He took her first 
to Heaven, which she represented as infinitely exceed- 
ing in beauty and splendor the most elevated concep- 
tions of mortals, and whose glories no language could 
describe. 

She told us that she beheld the Saviour upon a 
throne of light and glory, surrounded by the four-and- 
twenty elders, and a great multitude, which no man 
could number, among whom she recognized patriarchs, 
prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all the missionaries 
who had died in that colony, besides many others whom 
she mentioned, and, although those parties were not 
named by the angel that attended her, yet she said that 
seeing them was to know them. 

She described these celestial spirits as being va- 
riously employed, and, although she felt herself inade- 
quate to convey any definite idea of the nature of that 
employment, yet it appeared to be adapted to their 
respective mental tastes and spiritual attainments. She 
also informed us that she heard sweet and most en- 
rapturing music, such as she had never heard before, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 9 

and made several attempts to give us some idea of its 
melodious character, but found her notes too earthly 
for that purpose. 

While thus favored, the missionaries already re- 
ferred to, and other happy spirits, as they glided past 
her, sweetly smiled, and said they knew whence she 
came, and, if faithful to the grace of God, she would, 
in a short time, be admitted into their delightful so- 
ciety. All the orders of Heaven were in perfect and 
blessed harmony, and appeared to be directed in all 
their movements by a mysterious influence, proceeding 
from the throne of God. 

She was next conducted to a place whence she had 

A VIEW OF HELL, 

which she described in the most terrific language and 
declared that the horrid shrieks of lost spirits still 
seemed to sound in her ears. As she approached the 
burning pit, a tremendous effort was made to draw her 
into it, but she felt herself safe under the protection of 
her guardian angel. She recognized many in the place 
of torment whom she had known on Earth, and even 
some who had been thought Christians. 

There were princes and peasants, learned and un- 
learned, writhing together in one unquenchable fire, 
where all earthly distinctions and titles were forever at 

an end. Among them she beheld a Miss W , who 

had occupied a prominent station in society, but had 
died during the illness of this young woman. She said 

that when Miss W saw her approach, her shrieks 

were appalling, beyond the power of human language 
to describe, and that she made a desperate but un- 
successful effort to escape. The punishment of lost 
souls she represented as symbolizing the respective sins 

which had occasioned their condemnation. Miss W , 

for instance, was condemned for the love of money, 
which I had every reason to believe was her besetting 
sin, and she seemed robed in a garment of gold on fire. 



10 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

She said there was no sympathy among these un- 
happy spirits, but that unmixed hatred, in all its fright- 
ful forms, prevailed in every part of the fiery regions. 
She beheld parents and children, husbands and wives, 
and those who had been companions in sin, exhibiting 
every mark of deep hatred to each other's society, and 
heard them in fiendish accents upbraiding and bitterly 
cursing each other. She saw nothing in Hell but misery 
and despair, and heard nothing there but the most dis- 
cordant sounds, accompanied with weeping, and wail- 
ing, and gnashing of teeth. 

While she gazed upon this revolting scene many 
souls arrived from Earth, and were greedily seized by 
devils amid horrid shouts of hellish triumph. 

FROM THE GATES OF HELL 

Miss D was conducted to another position, whence 

she had a view of Heaven, and Hell, and Earth; and 
she described the Earth as appearing like a vast stage 
crowded with human beings, and full of confusion and 
blood. From this stage persons were continually step- 
ping off and others were rapidly approaching its edge, 
and would very soon disappear ; among whom was 

Mrs. L , an intimate friend of ours, who died a 

fortnight afterwards. Other persons, whom she named, 
were represented as near the edge of the stage; and 
although quite well when she made this communica- 
tion, did in every case shortly afterwards leave this 
probationary state. 

One of the days in which Miss D lay entranced 

was the Sabbath ; and she told us that she knew where 
I and my colleague preached on that day; and from 
each chapel she perceived holy incense rise, which she 
described as mingling together and coming up before 
the throne ; then taken by the Saviour and presented to 
the Father, whilst angels and all the company of 
Heaven rejoiced together. She also stated that during 
one of Mrs. Young's visits to the house where she lay 
entranced, she saw her sitting by her bedside, reading 
to the family a chapter out of St. John's Gospel, and 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. II 

then saw her kneel down and pray with them. She 
likewise gave us to understand, that matter, under 
none of its forms is any interruption to the vision or 

.MOVEMENTS OF SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 

She was next taken to a place whence she was per- 
mitted to see the moral state of the World. A lady, 
holding a prominent situation in the church, was repre- 
sented as sitting under a tree of most luxuriant and 
beautiful foliage, with a long tube in her mouth, by 
which she was drawing people to her ; and the conduct- 
ing angel informed Miss D that the tube indicated 

the power of this woman's persuasive language, the 
foliage of the tree her religious profession, and its 
trunk the state of her heart. On looking at the trunk, 
she beheld that its core was rotten, and full of venom- 
ous reptiles. Miss D told this afterwards to the 

lady in question; and from her unchristian temper on 
the occasion, and her subsequent conduct, she fully 
proved the correctness of the representation. 

A lady was represented to her as attired in the purest 
white, and surrounded by a number of little children, 
whom she was striving to wash in pure water, that they 
too might be white and clean; and the angel told her 
that the lady's robe was indicative of her purity of 
heart, and her holiness of life, and that her employ- 
ment symbolized the nature and effects of her exer- 
tions in the Church of God. I was well acquainted 
with this lady, and could bear witness to the correct- 
ness of this picture ; for she was in my opinion one of 
the holiest of women, and was exceedingly useful to 
children and young people ; indeed, the honored instru- 
ment of bringing many of them to God. 

According to the testimony of Miss D , she knew, 

without being informed, the various beings she met 
with in the world of spirits. It appears to be a region 
of knowledge intuitively obtained, without any labo- 
rious effort or inquiry. This view of the subject is 
calculated to strike terror into the hearts of those who, 



~ ' 



1-2 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

BY THEIR NEGLECT OR INFLUENCE, 

destroy souls, as it supposes they will know their vic- 
tims when they shall meet them in the world lying 
beyond the tomb ; but it is a view well adapted to excite 
pleasurable emotions in the breast of those who " turn 
.many to righteousness," as it encourages the hope of 
their recognizing their " spiritual. children. " 

The opinion seems correct that the inhabitants of 
Eternity know what is taking place in this World. The 
temptations presented by wicked spirits, the guardian- 
ship of angelic beings, the cloud of witnesses repre- 
sented by the apostle as looking from their place of rest 
upon Christians running the race set before them, and 
the joy felt in the presence of the angels of God over 
one sinner that repenteth, certainly very strongly coun- 
tenance the opinion. This also agrees with Miss 

D 's statement; for she told us most distinctly 

that the state and circumstances .of the population of 
our Globe were fully known to the inhabitants of the 
other world. How startling is the thought ! If Earth 
is without a covering to Eternity. 

Miss D lived about three years after this trance, 

and then died happy in the Lord. 



JAMES B. FINLEY'S VISION. 



The following account was published in the Chris- 
tian Witness, and in other publications: That Heaven 
is real there can be no doubt. That others beside St. 
Paul have been allowed a view of Paradise, is evident 
from the testimony of the most reliable witnesses. 
One of the most interesting and touching incidents of 
this character is related by James B. Finley (Methodist 
minister) in his Autobiography. It occurred in 1842, 
when he was Presiding Elder of the Lebanon District, 
Ohio Conference. 

He tells us that he was " winding up the labors of a 
very toilsome year. I had scarcely finished my work 
till I was most violently attacked with bilious fever, 
and it was with great difficulty that I reached my 
home." He sank rapidly. The best medical skill failed 
to arrest the disease, and life was utterly despaired of. 
" On the seventh night," he says, " in a state of entire 
insensibility to all around me, when the last ray of hope 
had departed, and my weeping family and friends were 
standing around my couch, waiting to see me breathe 
my last, it seemed to me that a heavenly visitant en- 
tered my room. It came to my side, and in the softest 
and most silvery tones, which fell like rich music on 
my ear, it said : ' I have come to conduct you to an- 
other state and place of existence/ In an instant, I 
seemed to rise, and, gently borne by my angel guide, 
I floated out upon the ambient air. Soon Earth was 
lost in the distance, and around us on every side were 
worlds of light and glory. On, on, away, away from 
world to luminous worlds afar, we sped with the ve- 
locity of thought. At length we reached the gates of 
Paradise ; and O, the transporting scenes that fell upon 

(13) 



14 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

my vision as the emerald portals, wide and high, rolled 
back upon their golden hinges !" 

" Language, however, is inadequate to describe what 
then, with unveiled eyes, I saw. The vision is indelibly 
pictured on my heart. Before me, spread out in 
beauty, was a broad sheet of water, clear as crystal, 
not a single ripple on' its surface, and its purity and 
clearness indescribable." 

" While I stood gazing with joy and rapture at the 
scene, a convoy of angels was seen floating in the pure 
ether of that world. They all had long wings, and 
although they went with the greatest rapidity, yet their 
wings were folded close to their sides. While gazing, 
I asked my guide who these were, and what their mis- 
sion. To this he responded : ' They are angels, dis- 
patched to the World from whence you came, on an 
errand of mercy/ I could hear strains of the most en- 
trancing melodies all around me, but no one was dis- 
coverable but my guide. At length I said : ' Will it 
be possible for me to have a sight of some of the just 
made perfect in glory V Just then there came before us 
three persons; one had the appearance of a male, the 
other a female, and the third an infant. The appear- 
ance of the first two was somewhat similar to the 
angels I saw, with the exception that they had crowns 
upon their heads of the purest yellow, and harps in 
their hands. Their robes, which were full and flowing, 
were of the purest white. Their countenances were 
lighted up with heavenly radiance, and they smiled 
upon me with ineffable sweetness." 

" There was nothing with which the blessed babe or 
child could be compared. Its wings, which were most 
beautiful, were tinged with all the colors of the rain- 
bow. Its dress seemed to be of the whitest silk, cov- 
ered with the softest white down. The driven snow 
could not exceed it for whiteness or purity. Its face 
was all radiant with glory; its very smile now plays 
around my heart. I gazed and gazed with wonder 
upon this heavenly child. At length I said : ' If I 
have to return to Earth, from whence I came, I should 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 15 

love to take this child with me, aad show it to the 
weeping mothers of Earth. Methinks when they see it, 
they will never shed another tear over their children 
when they die.' So anxious was I to carry out the 
desire of my heart that I made a grasp at the bright 
and beautiful one, desiring to clasp it in my arms, but 
it eluded my grasp and plunged into the river of life. 
Soon it rose up from the water, and, as the drops fell 
from its expanding wings, they seemed like diamonds, 
so brightly did they sparkle. Directing its course to 
the other shore, it flew up io one of the topmost 
branches of one of life's fair trees. With a look of 
most seraphic sweetness it gazed upon me, and then 
commenced singing in Heaven's own strain : ' To Him 
that hath loved me, and washed me from my sins in 
His own blood, to Him be glory, both now and forever. 
Amen/ " 

"At that moment, the power of the eternal God came 
upon me, and I began to shout; and, clapping my 
hands, I sprang from my bed, and was healed as in- 
stantly as the lame man in the beautiful porch of the 
temple, who went ' walking, and leaping, and praising 
God.' Overwhelmed with the glory I saw and felt, I 
could not cease praising God." 

" The next Sabbath I went to camp-meeting, filled 
with the love and power of God. There I told the lis- 
tening thousands what I saw and felt, and what God 
had done for me; and loud were the shouts of glory 
that reverberated through the forest." 

This is a most remarkable case. Father Adams, a 
member of the Ohio Conference, told us that he was 
present at the camp-meeting, and heard Mr. Finley 
relate the circumstances, when such power fell on the 
people that not less than five hundred sinners were 
crying to God for mercy, while the Saints of God 
shouted for joy. 



ARCHIBALD BOYLE'S VISION. 



The following account has been published in various 
religious publications. It is found in The Night- 
Side of Nature, by Catherine Crowe, issued in 1848. 
In her book she says, concerning the vision, that it is 
" an undoubted and well-attested fact. An account 
of it was published at the time." About ninety years 
ago (or perhaps about 1758) there was in Glasgow a 
club of gentlemen of the first rank in that city. They 
met professedly for card-playing, but the members 
were distinguished by such a fearless excess of pro- 
fligacy, as to obtain for it the name of " The Hell 
Club." They gloried in the name they had acquired 
for themselves, and nothing that could merit it was 
left untried. Beside their nightly or weekly meetings, 
they held a grand annual festival, at which each mem- 
ber endeavored to outdo all his former outdoings in 
drunkenness, blasphemy, and licentiousness. 

Archibald Boyle had been at one time a youth of 
the richest promise, being possessed of dazzling talents 
and fascinating manners. No acquirement was too 
high for his ability ; but, unfortunately, there was none 
too low for his ambition. Educated by a fond and 
foolishly indulgent mother, he early met in society 
with members of " The Hell Club." His elegance, wit, 
gaiety, and versatility of talent, united to the gifts of 
fortune, made him a most desirable victim for them: 
and a victim and a slave, glorying in his bondage, he 
quickly became. Long ere he was five and twenty, he 
was one of the most accomplished blackguards it 
could number on its lists. To him, what were Heaven, 
Hell or Eternity ? Words, mere words, that served no 
purpose, but to point his blasphemous wit, or nerve his 
execrations ! To him, what glory was there equal to 

(16) 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. \J 

that of hearing himself pronounced " the very life of 
the club?" Alas! there was none; for as soon as man 
forgets God, who alone can keep him, his understand- 
ing becomes darkened, and he glories in that which is 
his shame. 

One night, on retiring to sleep, after returning from 
one of the annual meetings of the club, Boyle dreamed 
that he was still riding, as usual, upon his famous black 
horse, toward his own house — then a country seat, 
embowered by ancient trees, and situated upon a hill 
now built over by the most fashionable part of Glas- 
gow — and that he was suddenly accosted by some one, 
whose personal appearance he could not, in the gloom 
of night, distinctly discern, but who, seizing the reins, 
said, in a voice apparently accustomed to command: 
" You must go with me." " And who are you ?" ex- 
claimed Boyle, with a volley of blasphemous execra- 
tions, while he struggled to disengage his reins from 
the intruder's grasp. " That you will see bye-and-bye," 
replied the same voice, in a cold, sneering tone, that 
thrilled through his very heart. Boyle plunged his 
spurs into the panting sides of his steed. The animal 
reared, and then suddenly darted forward with a speed 
that nearly deprived his rider of breath ; but in vain, in 
vain ! Fleeter he flew r , the mysterious, half-seen guide, 
still before him ! Agonized by, he knew not what, of 
indescribable horror and awe, Boyle again furiously 
spurred the horse. It fiercely reared and plunged; he 
lost his seat, and expected at the moment to feel him- 
self dashed to the earth. But not so ; for he continued 
to fall ■ — fall — fall — it appeared to himself with an 
ever-increasing velocity. At length this terrific rapidity 
of motion abated, and, to his amazement and horror, 
he perceived that this mysterious attendant was close 
by his side. " Where," he exclaimed, in the frantic 
energy of despair, " where are you taking me — where 
am I — where am I going?" "To Hell," replied the 
same iron voice ; and from the depths below, the sound 
so familiar to his lips was suddenly re-echoed, " to 
Hell." 



l8 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

Onward, onward they hurried in darkness, rendered 
more horrible still by the conscious presence of his 
spectral conductor. At length, a glimmering light ap- 
peared in the distance, and soon increased to a blaze. 
But as they approached it, in addition to the hideously 
discordant groans and yells of agony and despair, his 
ears were assailed with what seemed to be the echoes 
of frantic revelry. They soon reached an arched en- 
trance, of such stupendous magnificence, that all the 
grandeur of this World seemed in comparison but as 
the frail and dingy labors of the mole. Within it, 
what a scene! too awful to be described. Multitudes, 
gnashing their teeth in the hopelessness of mad de- 
spair, cursed the day that gave them birth; while 
memory, recalling opportunities lost and mercies de- 
spised, presented to their fevered mental vision the 
scenes of their past lives. Their fancy still pictured 
to them the young and- lovely, moving up and down 
in the giddy mazes of the midnight dance ; the bound- 
ing steed, bearing his senseless rider through the ex- 
citements of the goaded race; the intemperate, still 
brawling over the midnight bowl, the wanton song, or 
maudlin blasphemy. There the slave of Mammon be- 
moaned his folly in bartering his soul for useless gold ! 
while the gambler bewailed, alas ! too late, the madness 
of his choice. 

Boyle at length perceived that he was surrounded 
by those whom he had known on Earth, but were some 
time dead; each one of them betraying his agony at 
the bitter recollections of the vain pursuits that had 
engrossed his time here — time lent to prepare for a far 
different scene ! 

Suddenly, observing that his earthly conductor had 
disappeared, he felt so relieved by his absence, that he 

ventured to address his former friend, Mrs. D , 

whom he saw with eyes fixed in intense earnestness, 
as she was wont on Earth, apparently absorbed at her 

favorite game of loo. u Ha, Mrs. D ! delighted to 

see you ; d'ye know a fellow told me to-night he was 
bringing me to Hell ! Ha, ha ! If this be Hell/' said 






VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 19 

he, scoffingly, " what a devilish pleasant place it must 

be ! ha, ha ! Come, now, my good Mrs. D , for 

auld lang syne, do just stop for a moment, rest, and — 
. show me through the pleasures of Hell," he was going, 
with reckless profanity, to add ; but with a shriek that 
seemed to cleave through his very soul, she exclaimed : 
" Rest ! there is no rest in Hell !" and from intermi- 
nable vaults, voices, as loud as thunder, repeated the 
awful, the heart-withering sound : u THERE IS NO 
REST IN HELL !" 

She hastily unclasped the vest of her gorgeous robe, 
and displayed to his scared and shuddering eye, a coil 
of fiery living snakes — " the worm that never dies " 
the worm of accusing conscience, remorse, despair — 
wreathing, darting, stinging in her bosom; others fol- 
lowed her example, and in every bosom there was a 
self-inflicted punishment. In some, he saw bare and 
throbbing hearts, on which distilled slow drops, as it 
were, of fiery molten metal, under which consuming, 
yet ever unconsumed, they writhed and palpitated in 
all the impotence of helpless, hopeless agony. And 
mnny a scalding drop was a tear of hopeless anguish 
wrung by selfish, heartless villainy, from the eye of 
injured innocence on Earth. 

In every bosom he saw that which we have no lan- 
guage to describe, no idea horrid enough even to con- 
ceive; for in all he saw the full-grown fruit of the 
fiend-sown seed of evil passions, voluntarily nourished 
in the human soul, during its mortal pilgrimage. 

And they laughed, for they had laughed on Earth at 
all there is of good and holy. And they sang — profane 
and blasphemous songs sang they ! for they had often 
done so on Earth, at the very hour God claims as His 
own, the still and midnight hour. And he who, in 
his vision, walked among them felt how inexpressibly 
more horrible such sounds could be than ever was the 
wildest shriek of agony on Earth. 

" These are the pleasures of Hell," again assailed 
his ear, in the same terrific and interminable roll of 
unearthly sound. 



2Q VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

He rushed away ; but, as he fled, he saw those whom 
he knew must have been dead for thousands of years, 
still absorbed in their recollections of their sinful pleas- 
ures on Earth, and toiling on through their Eternity 
of woe. The vivid reminiscence of their godlessness 
on Earth inflicted on them the bitterest pang in their 
doom of Hell. 

He saw Maxwell, the former companion of his own 
boyish profligacy, borne along in incessant movement, 
mocked by the creations of his frenzied mind, as if 
intent on still pursuing the headlong chase. " Stop, 
Harry ! stop ! Speak to me ! O, rest one moment !" 
Scarce had the words been breathed from his faltering 
lips, when again his terror-stricken ear was stunned 
with the same wild yell of agony, reechoed by ten thou- 
sand voices: " THERE IS NO REST IN HELL!" 

Boyle tried to shut his eyes. He found he could not. 
He threw himself down, but the pavement of Hell, as 
with a living and instinctive movement, rejected him 
from its surface, and, forced upon his feet, he found 
himself compelled to gaze, with still-increasing in- 
tensity of horror, at the ever-changing, yet ever-steady, 
torrent of eternal torment. And this was Hell ! — the 
scoffer's jest— the by-word of the profligate! 

All at once he perceived that his unearthly conductor 
was once more by his side. " Take me," shrieked Boyle, 
" take me from this place ! By the living God, whose 
name I have so often outraged, I adjure thee ; take me 
from this place." 

"Canst thou still name His name!" said the fiend, 
with a hideous sneer. " Go, then ; but — in a year and 
a day we meet, to part no more !" 

Boyle awoke, and he felt as if the last words of the 
fiend were traced in letters of living fire upon his heart 
and brain. Unable, from actual bodily ailment, to 
leave his bed for several days, the horrid vision had 
time to take effect upon his mind ; and many were the 
pangs of tardy remorse and ill-defined terror that beset 
his vice-stained soul, as he lay in darkness and seclu- 
sion, to him so very unusual. 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 21 

He resolved, utterly and forever, to forsake " The 
Club/' Above all, he determined that nothing on Earth 
should tempt him to join the next annual festival. 

The companions of his licentiousness soon flocked 
around him; and, finding that his deep dejection of 
mind did not disappear with his bodily ailment, and 
that it arose from some cause which disinclined him 
from seeking or enjoying their accustomed orgies, they 
became alarmed with the idea of losing " the life of the 
club," and bound themselves by an oath never to desist 
till they had discovered what was the matter with him, 
and had cured him of playing the Methodist. Their 
alarm as to losing '*' the life of the club " had been 
wrought up to the highest pitch by one of their number 
declaring that, on unexpectedly entering Boyle's room, 
he detected him in the act of hastily hiding a book, 
which he actually believed was the Bible. 

Alas ! alas ! had poor Boyle possessed sufficient true 
moral courage, and dignity of character, not to have 
hidden the Bible, how different might have been his 
future ! But, like many a hopeful youth, he was 
ashamed to avow his convictions, and to take his stand 
for God, and his ruin was the result. 

After a time, one of his compeers, more deeply cun- 
ning than the rest, bethought himself of assuming an 
air of the deepest disgust with the world, the club, and 
the mode of life they had been pursuing. He affected 
to seek Boyle's company in a mood of congenial melan- 
choly, and to sympathize in all his feelings. Thus he 
succeeded in betraying him into a much-misplaced con- 
fidence as to his dream, and the effect it had produced 
upon his mind. The result may readily be guessed. 
His confidence was betrayed, his feelings of repentance 
ridiculed ; and it will easily be believed that he who hid 
the Bible had not nerve to stand the ribald jests of his 
profligate companions. 

We cannot trace the progress, and would not if we 
could. Suffice it to say, that, virtuous resolutions once 
broken — prayers once offered, voluntarily called back 
by sin from the throne of Heaven — all was lost ! Yet 



22 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

not lost without such a fell struggle between the con- 
victions of conscience and the spirit of evil, as wrung 
the color from his young cheek, and made him, ere the 
year was done, a gray-haired old man. 

From the annual meeting he shrunk with an instinc- 
tive horror, and made up his mind utterly to avoid it. 
Well aware of this resolve, his tempters determined he 
should have no choice. How potent, how active, is the 
spirit of evil ! How feeble is unassisted, Christless, un- 
prayerful manl Boyle found himself, he could not tell 
how, seated at that table on that very day, where he 
had sworn to himself a thousand and a thousand times 
nothing on Earth should make him sit. His ears 
tingled, and his eyes swam, as he listened to the open- 
ing sentence of the president's address : " Gentlemen, 
this is leap year ; therefore, it is a year and a day since 
our last annual meeting." 

Every nerve in Boyle's body twangled in agony at 
the ominous, the well-remembered words. His first 
impulse was to rise and fly ; but then — the sneers ! the 
sneers ! 

How many in this World, as well as poor Boyle, have 
sold their souls to the dread of a sneer, and dared the 
wrath of an Almighty and eternal God, rather than 
encounter the sarcastic curl of a fellow-creature's lips ? 

He was more than ever plied with wine, applause, 
and every other species of excitement, but in vain. His 
mirth, his wit, were like lurid flashes from the bosom 
of a brooding thunder-cloud, that pass and leave it 
darker than before; and his laugh sounded fiendish, 
even to the evil ears that heard it. 

The night was gloomy, with frequent and fitful gusts 
of chill and howling wind as Boyle, with fevered nerves 
and reeling brain, mounted his horse to return home. 
The following morning the well-known black steed was 
found, with saddle and bridle on, quietly grazing on the 
road-side about half-way to Boyle's country-house, and 
a few yards from it lay the stiffened corpse of its 
master ! 



VISION OF MARIETTA DAVIS. 



This account is taken from a work originally issued 
in book form about the year 1855. J. L. Scott (Baptist 
minister) in the preface to the book, says: "In the 
summer of 1848 a young woman, Marietta Davis, aged 
twenty-five years, (residing in the State of New York) 
fell into a trance, in which she remained for nine days. 
All endeavors on the part of her friends and of her 
physicians failed to arouse her. When at last she 
awoke to a consciousness of external things, she was 
in the full possession of all her natural faculties, with 
an almost supernatural acuteness of perception super- 
added." 

" Before she fell into the trance, her mind had been 
considerably exercised in regard to her future state; 
but there was yet a lingering doubt which greatly dis- 
turbed her. But when she came out of the trance, in 
which she had lain for so many days, it was with joy 
and rejoicing over the unspeakable things which she 
had seen and heard. Her mouth was filled with praises 
to God, and her heart swelled with gratitude to Him 
for His loving kindness. She averred that while her 
body lay as it were in death, her spirit had visited the 
Eternal World. She informed her friends that she was 
not to remain long with them: but should soon go 
hence to enjoy a mansion prepared for her in her 
Heavenly Father's Kingdom. After this she lived seven 
months and died at the time predicted by herself; and 
so perfectly did she know the hour of her departure, 
that when it arrived she selected a hymn and com- 
menced singing it with the family ; and while they sang, 
her spirit took its flight so gently as not to attract their 
attention." 

(23) 



24 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" She regretted her inability to express her concep- 
tions of what she had seen and heard, so as to give a 
definite idea of the glories of the Heavenly World. I 
have not felt at liberty to change the style of her narra- 
tive, and as far as possible have employed her own 
language. Having received the story from her own 
lips, I have so preserved it, as to make it in truth the 
relation of her own experience. ,, 

" The tone of the trance is exalted and Christ-like ; 
and therefore its influence cannot fail to be of a useful 
and sacred character. Confident of this, I offer it to 
the public. If read in the spirit in which it was given, 
it cannot fail to gladden and encourage the Christian, 
and to lead the thoughts of the man of the world be- 
yond his material existence." 

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 

There are no means to convey to man through his 
external senses, any just idea of the scenes I witnessed, 
while my body was reposing in its unconscious slum- 
bers. No medium of communication is sufficiently 
clear to give the perfect outlines of that which is in- 
visible and incomprehensible to mortals. Too gross 
are the vehicles of human sense to conduct to the dor- 
mant soul truthful impressions of the most exterior 
manifestation of life in the World of Peace. 

Long had I discovered the vanity of earthly things, 
the imperfections of human associations, the unre- 
liability of portions of religious faiths, and the want 
of permanent peace in the disquieted soul of man. 
Most earnestly I desired to know more of the reality 
of that state called by mortals immortality, for I had 
early learned that the outer world perished. At length, 
meditating from day to day, and while laboring to de- 
termine the nature and tendency of the human soul, I 
became less conscious of external things, and my inner 
mind grew stronger and more active, until the dim 
shadows of the objects and interests of this busy life 
of mortals ceased with the expiring view, and my 
vision closed to the outer world. Then objects new 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 2$ 

and strange appeared. Still I knew not that I was re- 
tiring from the World of sorrow and of human strife ; 
nor did I understand that my spiritual vision was open- 
ing, and what I saw dimly moving before me was a re- 
ality, the dawning of an immortal life. Still I seemed 
to be departing from some former condition and 
launching out into a boundless sea, and to be traversing 
unexplored regions, veiled in uncertain vision, and 
floating in midair over an immeasurable deep below. 
Alone and unguided, and possessed of a vague uncer- 
tainty, my timid spirit fain would have returned to the 
land of shadows whence it came. 

Half-conscious of my present condition, I seemed 
to ask, is there no one familiar with the journey I 
pursue, to guide me in my movements through this 
trackless space ? When lo ! in the distance, and above 
me, I saw a light descending, having the appearance 
of a brilliant star ; thither were directed the concen- 
trated powers of my perceptive being, until nothing 
was visible but the approaching light. As it advanced, 
its foreshadowing halo illumined the expanse about 
me, and my exhausted being received new life from the 
invigorating glory that beamed upon it. Gently I 
began to move, and ascending, drew nearer the source 
of that light which gladdened and quickened my spirit. 
As I approached it, I began to discover the outlines 
of what appeared to me a glorified human being. 
Gradually the figure became more distinct, until, poised 
in the atmosphere before and above me, was an angel, 
whose excellence far exceeded the highest conception 
of the fairest image of my human thought. That 
form, more lovely than language hath power to por- 
tray moved silently as it drew near me. Upon her 
head was a crown, formed like gems of clustering rays. 
The light of her countenance reflected like a flowing 
garment the encircling manifestation of celestial love. 
In her left hand was a cross, emblem of meekness, 
innocence and redeeming grace ; in her right hand a 
wand of pure intellectual light. With this she touched 
my lips, and like a flame of holy love, it quickened an 



26 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

immortal principle which diffused its enlivening spirit 
throughout my being. A new class of sensations awoke 
within me, and moving harmoniously, prompted a de- 
sire for companionship with the angelic being from 
whose hand came forth the stream of quickening light. 
I looked upon her> wishing to learn her name, when 
lo! she spoke. The harmony of her utterance filled 
me with unknown delight She said : " Marietta, thou 
desirest to know me. In my errand to thee I am called 
the Angel of Peace. I come to guide thee where those 
exist who are from Earth, whence thou art Wouldst 
thou profit by the lesson, follow me. But first behold 
thy form in yonder World. There, far below me, and 
through a dark and misty way, I beheld this sickly 
body of mortality. Around it were gathered my 
anxious friends, employing every means to awaken it, 
but all in vain. 

" Behold/' said my glorious guide, " a picture of 
human life. There kindred, tortured with sympathetic 
love, struggle to hold the crumbling vase, and keep the 
flickering light from expiring. t There, from youth to 
hoary age, rolls the tide of human woe. Fond hearts 
are severed. Death veils from mortal sight the tender, 
loving form. The opening flower that gladdens all 
around, folds its expanding leaves, withered with the 
touch of death. There, hopes, like dreamy phantoms, 
float in the mid-air of fancied bliss. As thy vision 
expandeth, witness thou the moving hosts. Earth, 
with her swarming millions, presents a mingled scene 
of rising hopes, ambition, strife and death. Her in- 
habitants are dismayed by the approach and fear of 
Death, the fell destroyer. Time quickly measureth 
the fleeting moments of human existence, and genera- 
tions follow generations in quick succession. " 

To this address I replied, " These thoughts are the 
burden of my young and inexperienced mind. These 
forms thou hast shown me, are before my vision. 
Like dewdrops they pass away. This is the cause 
of my sorrow. Canst thou tell me in what portion 
of the universe these beings find a resting place when 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 2j 

their spirits depart? Canst thou remove the veil that 
conceals them from mortal vision ? Canst thou guide 
me where they are ? O, tell me, have they a home, or 
a place, and may I follow where my loved ones have 
been borne ?" 

MAN AT DEATH. 

" Wouldst thou know the condition of the departed 
members of thy race, and be made familiar with the 
effects of the habits and associations of perverted man ? 
Measurably thou mayest; but know thou that their 
conditions are varied." Then bidding me look upward 
she said, " What beholdest thou ?" Obedient, I looked 
above me, and with wonder beheld an orb brighter by 
far than the Sun of Earth in meridian glory. Light, 
pure, beaming along the celestial skies, radiated there- 
from. — " There," said my guide, " are many thou 
wouldst see, who, clothed in raiment soft and white, 
move in harmony. There, night-shades never fall, and 
death and gloom have no element. Those who enjoy 
that blest abode do not suffer; no sin or pain disturbs 
their calm repose." 

Touched again by the light beaming from her right 
hand, I beheld the immortality of those who were quit- 
ting their house of clay, entering upon the regions of 
Eternity and commencing new and untried realities. 
Around each dying form were gathered spirits, varied 
in appearance and in movement. According to the 
moral nature of the dying, was that of attending spirits 
who waited their arrival in the Spirit World. In like 
manner, all classes and conditions are effected, since 
this intermediate state or vestibule of the Spirit World 
is visited by beings varying in character from the un- 
holy and wretched, to the bright and sanctified angels 
who in multitudes congregate at the portals of death, 
as messengers of God. And all classes as they emerge 
from the physical form are attracted to and mingle 
with kindred associations, beings to whose character 
they assimilate. Those of discordant and unhallowed 
natures are attracted by like elements, and enter into 
regions overhung with clouds of night; while those, 



28 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

who for the love of good, desire pure associations, are 
by heavenly messengers conducted to the orb of glories 
appearing above the intermediate scene. 

The strange sensations of human spirits as they 
mingled with the disembodied multitudes, beholding 
what was transpiring around them, excited my wonder, 
and while watching their movements, I began to ask 
myself, if what I saw was a reality or mere imagery 
reflected upon my mind in a dreamy state ? Upon dis- 
covering my thoughts, my guide took me by the hand 
saying, " These beings moving about thee, once the 
inhabitants of Earth whence thou art, having left their 
mortal dwellings, are commencing a new state of exist- 
ence. Their surprise is the effect of their sudden 
change from external objects and sense to spiritual. 
These scenes we will leave and ascend to yon bright 
orb." 

Thus saying, she led me toward the cloud of light. 
While passing the intermediate she touched me again, 
and I became conscious of additional and expanded 
vision. " Behold/' said she, " the countless planetary 
hosts. Mark the rolling orbs, suns, and systems of 
suns, moving in silence and harmony. The vast ex- 
panse is occupied and peopled with universes, con- 
structed in infinite wisdom. These are inhabited by 
holy beings, happy and immortal, though varied in de- 
gree of development and refined spirituality." 

Again the organs of perception were touched, and 
lo ! above and around me, and far in the distance, were 
passing and repassing with the quickness of thought, 
spirits of pure light. " These," said my guide, " are 
ministering angels ; their supreme delight is to go upon 
errands of mercy. Their home is with the ever blest. 
They are employed as guardian protectors and mes- 
sengers of holy thought to those in conditions below 
them/; - . 

While beholding them ascend and descend, one drew 
near me, in whose arms, and borne upon whose angelic 
bosom, was an infant spirit. The angel passed, and I 
saw that the nourished nestling rested in calm security, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 2<) 

apparently conscious of its safety in the hands of its 
protector. "Whence came this?" I inquired; and the 
angel answered, " I received it from a heart-broken 
mother at the gateway of death, as the spark of life 
expired in the external World, and am conveying it to 
the sphere of infancy in the Paradise of Peace." 

As the infant's guardian spirit proceeded, we moved 
silently in the same direction, until the scenes below 
perished from my vision, and my being was absorbed 
in the bright light descending from the orb we were 
approaching. Soon we entered a plain, whereon were 
visible trees, bearing fruit. Their interwoven branches 
formed an arched canopy of evergreen above us. Pass- 
ing through these shadowy groves, I was delighted with 
the melody of the birds, whose warbling notes arose in 
sweetest song. There we paused. Supposing that I 
was on some terrestrial orb, I inquired its name. 

My guide answered, " These trees, these flowers, 
these birds occupy the outer expanse of the spiritual 
paradise. So pure are they, and so refined, that mor- 
tals with beclouded vision may not behold them. And 
so soft their notes that they are not made audible to 
the dull hearing of men. Beings inhabiting forms more 
gross, do not conceive the reality of the existence of 
nature so refined. Absent from thy body, thou canst 
comprehend through spiritual senses the existence and 
reality of spiritual habitations ; but what thou dost now 
behold is but the outline and mere exterior of the home 
of spirits. These floral plains and warbling melodies 
are but the lower order of the external habitation of the 
sanctified. " 

" Dost thou discover that these groves appear as if 
moved with adoration? and that these melodies which 
charm and invigoVate thee with new life, are but notes 
ofifered to higher degrees of love ? Here the redeemed 
are first conducted by their guardian protectors, as 
they leave the valley and shadow of death, and here 
they are taught the rudiments of immortal life. Here 
they receive instructive lessons relative to their heavenly 
abode, and learn the nature of pure love, unmarred by 



30 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

sin. Here are first tuned the lyres of ceaseless praise, 
as they learn to utter immortal accents to the Lord, 
their Redeemer, and receive new-born thoughts which 
bring to them increasing sense of the reality of their 
change. Here friends who have advanced in spiritual 
attainments return from higher employment to wel- 
come the spirit on its entrance upon this plane of the 
Spirit World. Here kindred are permitted to meet and 
hold converse ; and 'tis in these immortal groves where 
spirits first attempt in unity the song of redeeming 
grace, and reposing in heavenly sweetness, breathe the 
air of paradise." The angel said, "Thou art not to tarry, 
since thy present mission is to learn the condition of the 
departed child of God. When thy course on Earth is 
ended, here thou shalt mingle in the infancy of thy im- 
mortal state with thy kindred, and receive lessons, 
preparatory to an advance to more exalted mansions, 
the more glorified home of the blessed." 

Then she reached out her hand, and plucked a rose 
that hung over us, and bidding me receive its fragrance, 
with it touched my lips. Again a more interior sight 
was given, and I beheld around me, and moving in 
every direction, through the varied floral scenes, happy 
beings without number. Desiring to mingle with them, 
I sought permission ; but my guide moved on, and up- 
ward through forests becoming more pure and fair as 
we ascended. 

CITY OF PEACE. 

At a distance, upon a superior plain I saw a dome 
of light. " That," said my guide, " is the gateway lead- 
ing to the City of Peace. There the manifestation of 
thy Redeemer is made visible. There saints and angels 
abide ; on harps of gold, and stringed'instruments, with 
immortal lyres, in alleluias, chant the Song of Redemp- 
tion ; the song of peace ; the song of love undying." 

" May I enter there ?" I inquired. Again she touched 
my lips, and they moved, uttering praise in unaccus- 
tomed accents which melted into the harmony of ce- 
lestial love. As we drew near, a class of attendants, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 31 

more glorious, gathered around the gateway, and one 
foremost addressed my guide in language I could not 
understand. Music, the music of love, was in their 
conversation, and joy as a halo, encompassed them 
as they welcomed us at the entrance of the Holy 
Sanctuary. 

A gate of jasper, set with diamonds, opened, and two 
angelic beings approached, and taking me by each hand, 
led my tremulous spirit towards an inner gate, a more 
immediate entrance to the pavilion of light. Then I 
remembered my discordant state; then thoughts of 
my former sins, my doubts, and rebellious nature, 
rushed upon my mind, and feeling entirely unprepared 
to endure the glory of the assemblage, my spirit failed 
me. The angelic attendants then bore me in their arms 
along the portal to the feet of a Being most glorious. 
Upon His head was a crown of pure light, and over 
His shoulders hung golden locks ! His loveliness, can 
never be expressed. 

" This, Marietta," said an attending angel, " is thy 
Redeemer. For thee in incarnation He suffered. For 
thee without the gate treading the winepress alone, 
He expired. " Awed by His goodness, tenderness and 
love, I bowed, feeling that if worthy I would worship 
Him. Reaching forth His hand/ He raised me up, 
and in a voice that filled my soul with inexpressible 
delight, said, " Welcome, my child. Daughter, spirit 
of a race forlorn, enter thou for a season the portals 
of the redeemed. " Then addressing the surrounding 
beings, continued, " Receive this your companion 
spirit/' And lo ! the worshiping congregation arose as 
upon the breath of holy love, and, meekly welcomed 
me as an heir of grace, and with tuned instruments the 
immortal choir chanted the spirit's welcome: — 

" Worthy is the Lamb who hath redeemed us. Exalt 
His name, all ye sanctified, yea adore Him, ye cherubim 
who worship in the celestial heavens. Adore Him, for 
He hath exalted us. We will praise His name, the 
name of our God Most High. We will bow down and 
worship at His feet. We will sing of His loving kind- 



32 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

ness. Waft, O, ye breezes of immortal love ! waft 
ye His name throughout the universe of worshiping 
beings. For lo ! from the depths of iniquity, and from 
death is exalted our sister, who from the hands of our 
Prince and Savior, we receive. Utter alleluias to Him 
forever, all ye adoring hosts. Utter ye His praise for- 
ever." 

The music of this soft and melodious utterance, 
moved like the voice of many waters, filling the entire 
dome, and as the anthem closed, the echo departed in 
the distance, as though borne from wave to wave, along 
the holy atmosphere. The spirit of praise so inspired 
each choralist with the fullness of divine melody, that 
moved by it, they softly touched the silver chord of 
their golden harps, causing each note to reverberate as 
if gliding along the sensitive nerves of spirit hearts, 
components of one immortal lyre. 

Each measure like noiseless waves swelled over that 
sea of mind; and with their gentle undulations I 
seemed to be moving when a spirit from the innumer- 
able company approached and addressing me in a 
familiar manner called me by name. The spell of 
music being broken, I was much affected to find my- 
self in the embrace of one who on Earth I had loved 
with the affection of an infant soul. With willingness 
I sank into her arms, and she with a sister's tenderness 
pressed me to her immortal form, saying: "Sister spirit, 
welcome, for a season to our home of peace." " Thrice 
welcome," uttered the music of a thousand voices, and 
lo ! around me gathered those I loved', all eager to greet 
me, and receive me to their kind embrace. 

Around us, and in this spacious room, appeared seats 
in form of an amphitheatre, yet glorious beyond de- 
scription. Hereon we rested. Mingling with them, were 
many old and familiar friends. Although I knew them, 
their appearance was unlike that while upon Earth, each 
being an embodiment of intellect unassociated with the 
physical form, in which I had known them before. Not 
having power, or any means adapted to convey a just 
idea, I can only give feeble utterance to my concep- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 33 

tions of their nature by saying, they appeared all mind, 
all light, all glory, all adoration, all love supremely 
pure, all peace and calm serenity, all united in sublime 
employ, all expression of heavenly unfolding joy. 

Freely did they converse, nor did they use the lan- 
guage of human beings. They spoke and no audible 
utterance attended, yet thought moved with thought, 
and spirit was familiar with the mind of spirit. Ideas 
associated with their heavenly life, flowed from being 
to being, and soon I learned that in Heaven there is no 
concealment. Harmony of soul, harmony of desire, 
harmony of speech, harmony in the swelling notes of 
adoring anthems, harmony in instructive movement, 
harmony in increasing thought, harmony was their life, 
their love, their manifestation, and supreme delight. 

Again with harps tuned in unison of harmonic 
praise, and in the ascending octave, they chanted a 
hymn to their Maker's name. When they closed that 
sacred hymn, my guide, touching my lips again with 
the wand of light, bade me mingle, a companion, with 
the members of this divine abode. Being after being 
pressed to mine immortal lips and seemed anxious to 
fold me in their arms. As a soul, new-born, they 
caressed me, after looking up in thankfulness to their 
Redeemer and their Lord. " And is this Heaven ?" my 
spirit said. "Are these happy souls those who once 
struggled in forms of clay? Are these immortal vis- 
ages, radiant with the glory of this adoring mansion, 
the spiritual countenances of those I have before seen 
in careworn life ? And where has fled that age and de- 
crepitude, ye parent spirits ?" 

THE PILGRIM'S ADDRESS. 

Then approached me one whom on Earth I had seen 
bending tremulously over the pilgrim's staff. I knew 
'twas one familiar, one of age and emaciated form, 
whose hoary head once told the story of a life of woe. 
In immortal youth the spirit stood before me ; no staff 
was there ; no trembling frame, no grief-worn cheek, 
no hollow eye, no sickly form ; but light and health 



34 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

and vigor were manifest. And the spirit said, " Behold 
in me the efficacy of redeeming grace. This heart was 
once the cage of thoughts unholy. These hands were 
employed in sin. These feet moved swiftly in the 
downward road that led to sorrow and to death. This 
form of mine, though not this form, yet that in which 
I used to live, was worn with grief, corrupt and dying 
with disease. But now, all hail that name, Immanuel! 
through Him, redeemed, I wear habiliments of light 
and exist in immortal youth. This song I chant, O, 
death, where is thy sting ? and grave, thy victory now ? 
Worthy is the Lamb who offered Himself to redeem ! 
Worthy — O, give Him adoration, ye countless hosts, 
ye innumerable throng ! Worship and adore Him, all 
intelligences ! yea let universes adore ! Adore Him, for 
He is worthy to receive anthems of universal praise !" 
— And while uttering this psalm, the peopled expanse 
uniting, lifted on high an immeasurable volume of notes. 
Then appeared a company of children, who hand in 
hand, moved around and their infant voices chanted: 
" Praise Him, for lo ! while on Earth He said, * Suffer 
infants and babes to come to me and forbid them not ; 
yea, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come 
unto me.' " 

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS. 

When this new song was ended, light supremely 
above that before witnessed, descended. I looked, and 
lo! the dome above me parted, and beings far more 
glorious approached. Awed by the presence of the 
light, and desiring to flee before it, I approached my 
guide, who said, " What thou hast seen, Marietta, is 
but the earnest of joys to come. Here thou hast been 
welcomed, and here witnessed this manifestation of thy 
Redeemer, and the harmony of this entrance to the 
divine abode. But, behold ! above thee the descending 
glory of the Cross appears. Spirits, members of thy 
race, redeemed, who are advanced to higher lrfe / attend. 
Mark the forshadowing ot the glory of the Seventh 
Sphere. These angels wait on thee," 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 35 

Then visible above me appeared a Cross, borne in the 
midst of twelve, on whose circle I read, " Patriarchs, 
Prophets and Apostles/' Above it was written, " Jesus 
of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Bowing at the feet 
was a spirit, whose raiment was white, and expression 
that of holy adoration. She kissed the Cross, and then 
descending, approached me, and in music of speech, 
superior to that of the anthems to which I had listened 
with wonder and delight, she said, " Welcome, spirit 
from the World of woe. Lo ! by the will of Jesus, even 
that Jesus crucified, my Lord and Redeemer, I come to 
commune with thee. 'Tis but by His permission thou 
art admitted here ; and be not sad, though thou shouldst 
be required to return to thy friends on Earth." 

The thought of being subjected again to the sins and 
misfortunes of my former life, so affected me that it 
seemed as if I was quitting the divine abode, and 
rapidly descending to Earth ; when lo ! I was embraced 
by my guide, who said, " When thou returnest, thou 
shalt go to bear a message of holy love, to Earth ; and 
at an appointed time, free from the power of mortal 
attachments, thou shalt enter here, a member of the 
holy band." 

The spirit who descended from the Cross then said, 
" What thou seest, and the message I give thee, thou 
shalt unfold to my son in mortality, struggling in the 
vales of night. Relate to him the story of descending 
light. In dove-like form, bear from Eternity the olive- 
branch of Truth. Press it to his heart, and it shall bud 
and blossom, and after much conflict, bear the ripened 
fruit. Marietta, thou hast been conducted here for a 
wise end, and for that purpose I am permitted to in- 
struct thee in many things, pertaining to Earth and 
Heaven. The thought of returning makes thee sad; 
yet thou shalt go laden with riches, the riches of in- 
structive truth, which as germs shall prepare the way 
for greater light." 

" First learn that all Heaven reveres the Cross. 
Before it myriads bow, and around it the redeemed 
delight to linger. Earth's religions are but dreamy 



$6 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

scenes, compared to these. Vague and imperfect are 
the highest conceptions of the human soul, relative to 
our condition here. 'Tis but just above the plains of 
Earth, where in perfect order begins the Spiritual 
Heaven. Around it move the guardian spirits. Min- 
gling, as permitted, with the inhabitants of Earth are 
countless guardian angels. No day, or hour, or mo- 
ment passeth, but each mortal is watched by the spirit 
appointed to his charge." 

' Man knoweth not the nature of sin, nor the fullness 
of grace in his redemption. He will not believe, even 
though from Eternity angels gather round him, to tell 
the story of immortality. Numberless are the causes, 
to prevent the light of Heaven from reaching and con- 
trolling the race of man, wretched and deathward tend- 
ing." She then led the heavenly diapason of an im- 
mortal hymn, too full and too harmonious in movement 
to be transmitted by human language. At its close she 
said, " Sister spirit, rest thou in the embrace of holy 
affection. Observe what passeth around thee; for lo! 
shall be mirrored upon thy mind a faint, descending 
and remote expression of the joy that fills this land of 
peace. Thou didst notice when I descended, I kissed 
the Cross. All saints delight themselves in thus ex- 
pressing their remembrance and regard for their Re- 
deemer who offered Himself a sacrifice." 

A pause in the address ensued, during which, voices, 
apparently in the distance, arose in soft and melodious 
alleluias. The accents moved like living beings, seek- 
ing to wake the song of redemption in every spirit 
throughout the vast assemblage. " Who are these ?" 
I inquired. " These are they," she said, " who hav- 
ing come out of great tribulation, cease not day or 
night to raise their anthems high, in exaltation of their 
Savior's name. The Heaven of Heavens is animate 
with this celestial love. From Saints, who in Earth's 
cottage humbly adore and sing of redeeming grace, 
through pathways of ascending life, is borne on high 
the soul-inspiring melody of heavenly adoration." 

" Wouldst thou dwell forever in this World of Peace, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. ^7 

joy and love divine ? Wouldst thou bear some humble 
part with the psalms of these immortal choralists? 
Be thou admonished of thy former incredulity, thy 
want of faith and consecration ; for there are no other 
means than those in Christ, the Redeemer, by which 
to attain inheritance in this blest abode. " 

This last address revived within me remembrance 
of my former doubts, my want of confidence in the 
Savior, and of consecration to His cause. My spirit 
drooped. I saw the justice of the mild reproof, and 
inquired, " May I yet hope ? Or is the opportunity to 
secure this Heaven of life forever gone? Fain would 
I give myself, my all. Fain would I return no more to 
Earth. O, that I could forever dwell where peace like 
a river gently floweth, and love unpolluted, moveth 
from heart to heart !" 

"Be faithful then," said the spirit, "to the light 
given, and at last thou shalt enjoy the bliss of Heaven. 
Marietta, the scene now passing before thee, is one 
fraught with interest. In this assembly are the 
Prophets and martyred Saints. See, their raiment is 
white, pure and transparent. Upon their breast is the 
manifestation of the Cross. In their left hand is a 
golden censer, and in their right a small volume. " 

The scene expanded and I saw that from the center, 
and around which the multitudes were congregated, 
arose a pyramid whose column was composed of pearls 
and most precious stones, set with crosses of spiritual- 
ized diamond, upon which were engraven the names 
of those who had suffered for their love of Truth, and 
who not counting their lives dear, had endured per- 
secution even unto death. Upon this column stood 
three spirits, in the attitude of meekness and adora- 
tion, holding in their hand, and above them a Cross 
from which floated a banner ever unfurling, — "These/' 
said my guide, " are select, one Patriarch, one Prophet, 
and one Apostle. They represent the triune circle of 
commissioned Saints who shall attend the reappearing 
of the Son of Man, and shall go forth in the day ap- 
pointed, gathering together the elect from the four 



38 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

winds, from the uttermost part of the Earth to the- 
uttermost part of Heaven. The volumes the spirits 
hold in their hands unfold the order of creation, the 
redemption of man, and the principles which govern 
the obedient. " 

THE CHILD'S NARRATIVE. 

As the former scene closed upon my view, the spirit 
who kissed the Cross, raised her hand, radiant with 
the light of life, and two children drew near. As they 
approached, they bowed gracefully, and each placing 
a hand in hers, with meekness looked into her lovely 
face and smiled. Addressing me she said, " These 
children left the form while in their infancy, and being 
innocent, were conducted to the paradise of innocence 
in the Seventh Sphere." 

The eldest of the two, thus introduced, said, " Mari- 
etta, I rejoice to commune with thee, since thou shalt 
return to those who loved us and who mourned our 
departure from the valley of death. When thou art 
again conversing with mortals, say to him who now 
sits by thy body, that we have learned that though 
parents may grieve for us, ours is a cup overflowing 
with gladness to the spirit made free. Marietta, this 
is the world we know. Here we. first awoke to the 
reality of our existence. Earth we visit, conducted by 
our guardian angels, but it is unlike Heaven. There 
we witness sorrow, pain and death; here, harmony, 
happiness and life abide." 

He then looked down as if in deep meditation and 
all was silent. I thought the subject which had en- 
gaged his mind, had made him sad, but soon saw that 
his attitude was occasioned by the approach of an angel 
who in ascending had passed just above us. O, how 
my being was affected at the sight ! Light surrounded 
her as a well wrought garment. Her very movement 
was the harmony of harmonies. I desired to follow, 
and said, " O, tell me, who is this so glorious ? I feel 
her sacred influence, and ardently desire to enjoy the 
society and the abode of such beings." 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 39 

" This/' said the spirit, " is an angel who belongs to 
the Infant Paradise. Have you not read in the Gospel, 
that blessed expression of the Redeemer, ' In Heaven 
their angels always behold the face of their Heavenly 
Father?' This angel has the guardian protection of 
infants, and is commissioned to meet infant spirits as 
they leave the external world and enter into the spirit- 
ual. She pauses in her ascension for thee. She holds 
out her arms, and what seest thou, Marietta ?" " A 
small pale light," I answered. The angel then breathed 
upon it, as if imparting life, and pressed it to her 
bosom in fondness infinitely above that manifested by 
earthly mothers. I knew the little spirit was at rest. 
Feeling the heaven that encompassed and pervaded 
the angel, again I wished to fly away, and with the in- 
fant be forever blessed. But while I was struggling to 
ascend, the angel arose — one flash of light and she 
disappeared. 

Then a far different scene was revealed — below me 
in a little room, I saw a female kneeling by the lifeless 
body of her departed child. She convulsed, and at 
times tears streamed from her eyes, and then her face 
was as marble, her eyes set and glassy, and her whole 
form quivered while she pressed kiss after kiss upon 
the cold cheek of her lost. babe. At this juncture a 
man dressed in black gravely entered. The group gave 
way and he silently approached the weeping mother, 
and taking her by the hand said, " Sister, arise. The 
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be 
the name of the Lord. Jesus said, ' Suffer little child- 
ren to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such 
is the kingdom of Heaven. For I say unto you, their 
angels always behold the face of their Heavenly 
Father/ " 

Next I saw that mother, sitting beside a coffin, in an 
earthly assemblage. Her eye was fixed upon the ceil- 
ing. Her countenance wore an expression of despair. 
Before the coffin stood the grave-looking man, whom 
I had seen enter the room of death. He read a Psalm, 
offered prayer for the afflicted, and then encouraged 



40 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

the mourners, by endeavoring to prove from the sacred 
text, that the babe, though dead shall live again, and 
that an angel had conveyed it to Abraham's bosom. 

The assembly disappeared, and the child addressed 
me saying, " The lifeless form just seen in the vision, 
was the representation of my own body, the weeping 
mother was my own mother ; the scene was that which 
transpired when I left that body; the grave-looking 
man was the minister of a congregation in the outer 
World. The angel who while passing us paused, was 
the bright spirit who conveyed me far above the in- 
fluence of evil magnetism, to a place prepared for the 
young and delicate infant, where spirits appointed are,, 
ever occupied in nourishing infant minds. Dost thou 
wish to visit that nursery ?" Thus saying he looked 
up to the spirit, as if to ask permission to conduct me 
there. 

ARTISTIC ORDER OF INFANT PARADISE. 

In a moment we were ascending in the direction of 
the angel who had borne along the infant, and who had 
disappeared in the light. Soon we drew near that 
which at first appeared like a city built in the midst 
of a floral plain. There appeared stately edifices and 
streets lined with trees whose foliage cast a lovely 
shade ; on whose branches birds of all colors appeared ; 
and although all were singing with different notes, all 
mingled in one full and perfect harmony. Many cor- 
responded to those on Earth, and yet were so superior 
to them as the Paradise itself was superior to the 
mortal World. 

As we advanced, the beauty and harmony increased, 
and new scenes appeared. The architecture of the 
edifices, the sculptures in the open air, the fountains 
that sparkled in the light, the trees that waved their 
extended branches, the flowers and flowering vines be- 
coming more majestic, interwoven and beautiful. There 
were also many avenues, each of which, slightly as- 
cending, led to a common center toward which we 
pursued our way. 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 41 

As we advanced, I perceived before me a vast and 
complicated structure, whose outer walls and towers 
appeared formed of marble, that was in appearance 
delicate as snow. This served as the foundation of a 
vast canopy, like a dome, though far too extended to 
be expressed by the earthly architectural meaning of 
that term. We drew near this building, and I per- 
ceived that the dome was suspended over the vast 
circular space. " This," said my guide, " is the place 
where all infants from thy Globe are gathered for the 
instruction and support of their infant natures. Thou 
didst discover, as we moved along the avenues, on 
either side edifices. Each of these corresponds to what 
mortals call a nursery for the young. There infants 
are first conducted, and there nourished beneath the 
smile of their guardian angels. Each, though some- 
what varying, is a miniature of this vast temple of in- 
structive manifestation, and each is a home for the 
infant spirits who enter there, until they attain to 
higher degrees, and enter the Paradise of more ad- 
vanced youthful existence, for degrees of instruction 
adapted to a more intellectual condition. Over each 
of these are appointed seven maternal guardians. 
Thou seest, Marietta, that no two edifices are perfectly 
alike in interior beauty, external form or decoration, 
but that all harmoniously combine ; and also, that each 
guardian angel is different in the radiative light and 
individuality of the face and form. This thou art per- 
mitted to know." 

" Whenever an infant dies on Earth, the angel guar- 
dian who bears up the spirit to the Land of Peace, 
perceives its interior type of mind, and according to 
its type it is classed with others of like order of intel- 
ligence; and as the skilful gardener on Earth in one 
floral division trains the various species of the lily, and 
in another compartment roses, and in another the 
camellias or the honey-suckles ; so here angelic wisdom 
classifies the infant spirits, and according to their 
variety of artistic, scientific, and social tendencies, as- 
signeth each a home best adapted to the unfolding of 



42 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

its interior germs of life, into intellectual, artistic or 
industrial harmony. Over each edifice preside seven 
guardian angels, who collectively form one octave of 
instruction, each angel being of that type of mind 
which agrees with his associates, as one note har- 
monizes with the associate tones and semi-tones of the 
harmonic scale. Each of these seven guardians is the 
superior of a subordinate octave of more youthful 
spirits, who perform duties assigned to them, accord- 
ing to their type of being, in the harmonic system of 
paradisiacal instruction; and each of these presides 
over a separate class of infant beings." 

" Seven of these edifices compose one greater family, 
and each separate palace of instruction, which is em- 
bosomed in its own separate gardens and enclosures, 
is one of seven of associate variety, and of like degree ; 
and seven of these in their turn form the subordinate 
divisions of one more composite and magnificent pala- 
tial temple, whose center pavilion is adapted to instruc- 
tion in more exalted degrees of paradisiacal truth/' 

" The center palace of each ward is thus a magnifi- 
cent temple of instruction, encircled in artistic splen- 
dors and floral harmonies, corresponding to its degree, 
and this is surrounded by seven lesser pavilions of 
architectural beauty, encircled by corresponding adorn- 
ments adapted to their subordinate but exalted condi- 
tions ; and each of these last is also the center of a 
lesser octave of edifices, also adorned with stately 
forms of blooming and sculptured perfection. In these 
last the infants dwell, and are led forth each day, or 
each successive period corresponding thereto, to the 
superior palaces, and to the center pavilion, for the 
education of their unfolding natures." 

" As soon as these infants arise to a degree suitable 
for the general assembly in the great and center dome, 
or temple of instruction, they are led first from their 
several homes to their separate center school, and then 
all emerge from the different wards and move beneath 
a cloud of angel choralists, who chant loud alleluias to 
their Prince and Savior, toward the outer temple. ,, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 43 

THE PARADISIACAL NURSERY. 

As the spirit closed, I saw on our right a portion of 
one of the lesser temples remove, as if an invisible 
hand gathered it in a manner corresponding to the 
removal of a suspended curtain, and lo ! to my already 
astonished spirit, there appeared visible the interior of 
one of the nurseries, supremely light with the glory 
thereof, and adorned with artistic beauty correspondent 
to the majestic appearance of the paradise of infants. 
At first I was greatly abashed, feeling my own unfit- 
ness to behold any abode so pure, lovely and majestic. 
" There/' I unconsciously uttered, " is Heaven." My 
reflections were perceived by my instructress who ob- 
served, " Marietta, behold the manifestation of infant 
life in Paradise. Let us enter, and there thou shalt 
learn the true condition of those who as babes leave 
the World of sorrow, and who are immediately con- 
veyed to this place and are henceforth happy. Little 
do mortals know of the blessedness attending their 
little ones who leave in the morning of their existence. 
Those who believe in Christ become reconciled to the 
loss, but this is mostly upon condition of the law of 
submission established in the Christian's heart. I was 
once a mother in the World of sorrow and loss. There 
I learned to weep, and there I also learned the priceless 
value of faith in God's mercy through our Lord Jesus 
Christ; there, Marietta, did I bid adieu to the infants, 
who lived but to pain a mother's heart at the parting." 

" Thrice. I pressed to my fond heart the loved babes, 
flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone and life of my life, 
and looking up to God, adored Him for the precious 
gifts. But scarcely had I with hope illumed the future, 
and placed my heart upon them, ere, like young and 
tender buds they were nipped by the frost of death, and 
I was left wounded and forlorn. I hoped in Jesus, and 
consigned them to Him, believing they were well ; but, 
Marietta, had I only known, yea, could I have but seen 
what thou now seest, then would my soul have had 
from knowledge added to faith, greater rest, for here 
the babe who has left its parents in woe, but waits their 



■■—■ ^ 



44 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

arrival, and here it is safe from the contaminations of 
the vices and sins of the fallen race. See, Marietta," 
she continued/' these germs of immortality." 

I beheld and lo! the interior that was opened be- 
fore me was that of a temple gloriously adorned. In 
circular tiers, one rising above another, were niches 
or segments of circles, as wrought in gold and over- 
shadowed with a seraph. In each reposed an infant 
spirit. Before each was an attending or guardian 
angel, whose employment consists in fitting for higher 
life the germ formation of the spirit for its eternal 
existence in holy usefulness. The angel breathes upon 
it and every breath causes its capacity and life to ex- 
pand, for the breath is that of holy love and inspira- 
tion, as her life is in God whose quickening spirit per- 
vades all angels in the Heavens. 

As we entered, I saw that those infants, as they 
awoke to still greater consciousness, and as they be- 
held their angel bending over them, wore an expres- 
sive smile, and were happy. Could I portray to you 
this one nursery, and s so fix it in" your mind that you 
could realize its glorious magnificence, then would I 
be more content, but I cannot. No means are given 
me ; no mortal can know. Could you enter there with 
me, you would behold in the center, held in an angel's 
hand, a Cross, as of pure, transparent, and spiritualized 
gold; and on either hand maternal spirits directing 
youthful maidens while employed with the newly-ar- 
rived infant spirits committed to their charge. From 
the silken, cradle-like resting place, adorned with blos- 
soms of every hue, overshadowed with the seraphim, 
were constantly arising those who had been laid there 
by those spirits who had received them at the hands of 
bereaved parents. As they arise they float as with 
wings of pure light amid the moving angels who con- 
duct them as they learn to move and to observe the 
nature and employment of the family of spirits who 
watch over them. Each angel also has many forms of 
external imagery by which to impress the first prin- 
ciples of truth upon their minds. 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 45 

There are also angels appointed; who touch in softest 
notes, the varied instruments upon which is made 
melody. This music is ever mingling with that of 
angelic voices of sweet and heavenly utterance. The 
dome or temple is so constructed as to echo, in gentle 
undulations, each strain, which appears to move with 
the life of the place. So soft, sweet, and melodious 
was that music, that it sewed as life to give action and 
strength to the spirit nerve of those who were repos- 
ing beneath the smile of their guardians. " This," 
said the spirit who had conducted me there, " is but 
one of the many of these great temples, and corre- 
sponds to all in this degree. Here — O ! that earthly 
parents could realize it — is, as it were, the birth-place 
of those' who are not permitted to tarry in the outer 
form until understanding awakes within them. From 
this they ascend to places prepared. But, Marietta, 
thou hast not witnessed the most delightful of all the 
realities connected with this temple." 

INFANTS RECEIVED BY THE SAVIOR. 

As she spoke, each of the guardian angels arose with 
the infant of her charge, and poised in the great space 
within the galaxy of choralists, and around the angel 
who held the Cross. Instantly a light, infinitely su- 
perior to that in the temple, descended from above ; 
and I was awed with the august presence of a retinue 
of angels, in whose midst was one like unto that 
glorious Being I had been informed was my Redeemer. 

As they approached the center, the manifestation of 
the Cross disappeared before the greater light; the 
angel retinue paused, and the Being whom they at- 
tended smilingly said, " Suffer little children to come 
unto me, and forbid them not." The sweetness and 
gentleness of the expression, and the love that shone 
from His face as these words moved from His lips, 
overcame me, and I sank at the feet of my heavenly 
conductor, who raised me up, and drew me to her 
aneel breast. 

I would that the world could see and hear what then 



46 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

occurred. As He spoke, those guardian angels drew 
near, and each presented Him with their treasure. He 
moved his hand above them, and goodness, like dew- 
drops, fell therefrom, and the infants appeared to drink 
as from a fountain of living water. They were blessed. 
The emanation from that Being was the breath of life. 
The temple wore a new aspect. As the scene was clos- 
ing, the angels who attended Him played upon stringed 
instruments, and sung of redemption. He moved His 
gracious hand as if in approbation of what the guar- 
dian angels had done; and they all bowed, and veiled 
their faces in the garment of glory that encompassed 
them. Suddenly music, like the voice of many waters, 
arose from every temple in the broad nursery of the 
great city. And as the utterance moved forth in one 
swelling wave of angelic song, that Being, with those 
who had accompanied Him, re-ascended, and the 
angels of this temple resumed their former movement. 

" This," said my guide, " is but the more simple por- 
tion of the heavenly exercises connected with the pleas- 
ing occupation of those who are appointed to rear in- 
fant spirits, in preparation for unfolding their being 
into enlarged capacity and useful employment. The 
Earth, if man had not there departed from purity and 
harmony, and thence from affinity and companionship 
with beings of an exalted nature, would have been a 
proper nursery for new-born spirits." 

" Sin, Marietta, removed the condition of the sinner 
from that of angels ; for by it his moral nature became 
changed. Angels are pure. No stain is found upon 
them, — no evil desires ever awaken improper energies 
within them. From them emanates life in its pure 
element. That life nourishes a like element. More 
dependent spirits arise within their halo of divine exist- 
ence. They are, in like manner, moving within the 
glory that encompasses the societies more exalted than 
themselves ; and these are, in like manner, moving in 
the light, and enjoying the life-sphere of a still higher 
class of beings. Thus, all pure spiritual beings united, 
exist in spheres of higher life; and, as one being of 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 47 

greater capacity, exist in the life descending from God, 
the Life of all." 

" Thou didst notice, that as He who blessed these 
little ones ascended, all the nurseries of this great city 
chanted as one, praises to God and the Lamb. This 
was spontaneous ; for those who know the conse- 
quences of sin are the better prepared to behold in 
Jesus condescension and mercy infinite, and from their 
inmost being, to adore Him. But when He moves in 
their midst they utter songs silently, which, as He is 
withdrawing from them, assume outward expression. * 
These happy beings, Marietta, could no more refrain 
from that full manifestation of joy and thanksgiving, 
than life could cease to flow from Him who is the 
Author of Life. Thus it is throughout all Heaven, 
and more especially all abodes of preparation for spirits 
of the redeemed. Dost thou' not realize that e^ch 
breath of those beings around thee is but a separate 
volume of praise to God? If men in the body knew the 
goodness of God in redemption, they would cease from 
evil, and learn righteousness and the ways of peace. 
Marietta, understandest thou this ?" 

I felt the reproof, knowing my former infidelity as 
to salvation through Jesus, and fain would have veiled 
my spirit from the scrutiny of that spirit who thus ad- 
dressed me. I knew I had doubted the immortality of 
the soul, and man's restoration from evil through the 
Lord Jesus Christ. And now I beheld that He is all 
and in all; the source of every pure and holy delight, 
and the theme of all I had been permitted to see in the 
World of Spirits. 

As soon as the angels had resumed their former posi- 
tions, my guide informed me, that those infant spirits 
I had just beheld blest by the Redeemer, had been 
given into the charge of other angels, whose delight 
was to gently train the mind by means adapted to their 
advancing condition ; and that now was approaching a 
scene in which I should witness the reception of in- 
fants just from Earth. As she closed, I saw above and 
around, angels poising in the serene atmosphere, wait- 



48 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

ing with their treasures the moment to arrive for them 
to enter the temple. When the former angels had 
given up their charge, and were preparing to receive 
another class, these entered and occupied the center 
around the Cross. At first their movement was ir- 
regular, but not disturbed. Then the softest and most 
gentle music commenced, as if harmony had awakened 
from her sacred stillness, and moved in almost silent 
utterance, like some spirit breath, from the heart of 
gentleness and love. I was surprised at the quiet 
movement of this sweet music. A company of ma- 
ternal spirits were gathering around those angels who _ 
had just entered. These moved to the time and se- 
renity of the music, while engaged with each angel in 
nourishing the infants held to their breasts. The music 
and movement of these maternal spirits manifested 
great caution ; while all others in the temple were mo- 
tionless, as far as I could discern, except three spirits, 
who appeared to poise above the center, from whom 
radiated a soft and pure light. " Those angels," said 
my guide, " encompassed in a light above that of the 
temple, are of a higher and more exalted nature. From 
them proceeds a halo of superior light. This light is 
the descending life of love. Dost thou not see how it 
concentrates, forming a separate spiral-like embodi- 
ment, encompassing and overshadowing those germinal 
existences in the arms of the guardian angels? That 
which is nourished by each angel is a spirit whose 
being is just begun, and who, by reason of nature's 
violated laws, has been separated prematurely from its 
infant form in the external world. This soft music 
thrills every fiber of the being, while the Supreme 
Spirit is reorganizing and giving it enlarged capacity." 

THE CITY VIEWED FROM A SUPERIOR PLAIN. 

Then I heard a voice from above us saying, " Come 
up hither." At this moment I beheld a circular ex- 
panse; like the interior of a tower, whose spiral walls 
formed ascending galleries, winding upward into the 
superior glory. This lovely pathway seemed formed 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 49 

of rainbows wreathed in spirals of prismatic hue, and 
reflecting varying but ever-beautiful tints of matchless 
luster. 

Borne on a cloud of essential light, that like a chariot 
gently ascended the spiral, we passed from the surface 
of the city, and advanced along the rising galleries of 
this tower of rainbow forms and glories. Seated by 
the side of my companion, a sense of calm composure, 
full of holy peace and delight far superior to any pre- 
vious condition, captivated and pervaded my breast. 
The spiral gallery, which seemed to undulate as if 
moved by breathing elements of life, became more 
beautiful as we advanced, and appeared to be com- 
posed of minute gems of floating light, reflecting and 
picturing in their tremulous surfaces each floral beauty, 
which had gladdened my eye as I passed through the 
city from which I had just arisen. 

Soon we emerged from the ascending gallery of 
rainbows and stood upon an aerial plain, resting in the 
transparent air above that magnificent and lofty dome 
which crowns the center temple of instruction in the 
paradisiacal abode. From this position I beheld the 
great city, reaching on every side beneath my view, and 
was so situated as to perceive at a glance the general 
features of its plan. The sublime temple of instruction, 
builded of most precious materials, and in a style of 
architecture which I am unable to describe, arose in air 
from the center of a circular lawn of great extent, 
whose green surface appeared covered with the softest 
and richest verdure. Majestic trees in groups, and at 
regular intervals arose, bearing a profusion of fragrant 
and shining clusters of flowers. Beneath their shade, 
and on the more open spaces, appeared minute flower 
beds, filled with every variety of flowers and blossom- 
ing shrubs and vines. Fountains of living waters also 
were visible, some just rising from the green grass, 
and flowing through their marble channels, or through 
beds of golden sands, with a low and pleasant mur- 
mur ; while others gushed forth in full volume to a 
lofty height, and descended in glowing streams of 



50 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

every variety of form, and were received in basins, 
some of which were like diamond, and others like 
burnished silver or the whitest pearl. This lawn was 
encircled by a lofty but open trellis work; and at its 
eastern side appeared a gateway without doors, from 
the center of which flowed forth a stream of living 
water, supplied from the fountain within the en- 
closure. 

I now directed my attention to the surrounding city, 
and perceived that it was divided into twelve great 
divisions by this river of living waters, which, flowing 
in a spiral course, was bordered on either side by a 
wide and regular avenue, in twelve great curves or 
circles, proceeding from the center to the circumfer- 
ence. I also perceived that twelve other streets inter- 
sected this spiral avenue, centering in the consecrated 
ground about the Temple, and radiating to twelve 
equally divided points in the outer limits of the scene. 

As my vision followed the pathway of the flowing 
river and the stately avenues, my mind became ab- 
sorbed till all sense of person or time was merged in 
the entrancing sight. The city was divided into one 
hundred and forty-four great wards or divisions, ar- 
ranged in a series of advancing degrees of sublimity 
and beauty. From the outer limit to the center was 
one gently ascending and encircling pathway of ever- 
increasing loveliness. Each degree was marked by 
new and more beautiful forms of tree, flower, foun- 
tain, statue, palace, and temple of adoration. Each 
building was of vast extent, and corresponded with all 
others as the perfect part of a most perfect whole. 
Thus the entire city appeared one garden of flowers; 
one grove of umbrage; one gallery of sculptured 
imagery; one undulating sea of fountains; one un- 
broken extent of sumptuous architecture all set in a 
surrounding landscape of corresponding beauty, and 
overarched by a sky adorned with hues of immortal 
light, that bathed and encircled each and every object 
with an ever-varying and increasing charm. 

I now beheld the movement of the inhabitants. But 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 51 

faint is the idea that can be given, of what was mov- 
ing before my sight. I can only describe it by saying, 
that the entire movement was melody. All the angelic 
multitudes appeared animated from one inspiring 
love, moving in the wisdom of one orderly plan, and 
having in view the unfolding of their infant charge 
into a condition of being which should perfectly cor- 
respond to all that visible perfection. No angel mani- 
fested a separate, personal movement, disconnected 
from the universal harmony, but all appeared to co- 
operate and to be inspired from one superior source. 
I saw that no rivalry, emulation, or desire of selfish 
glory existed in the lovely group of infants, but that 
each group, and the inhabitants of each nursery or 
palace, were united in holy affection to the superior, 
associated and more mature societies ; and that each 
little child was filled with holy love, and desired to 
become advanced in holy wisdom and fitted to be used 
as an angel of light and loveliness. I saw also, that 
each delighted to learn from those above, to communi- 
cate beautiful forms, as gifts of holy love and wisdom 
to those below, and to exercise the entire being in har- 
monic and unselfish works of love. In this it was re- 
vealed, that each child and each group of children ad- 
vanced in orderly series, from temple to temple, from 
palace to palace, from circle to circle, and that as one 
group advanced it occupied the place just vacated by 
an older group and gave place to a more youthful 
family, in its former abode. 

Having thus beheld the city in its glory, usefulness 
and magnificence, my vision expanded, and beyond 
the extreme circle of palaces, I saw more perfectly, 
what I had seen before while in the city, multitudes of 
angels gathering around, in readiness to enter the outer 
temples at the appointed period. I saw that each class 
was congregating according to the class or school 
to which the infants they had with them were best 
adapted. These angels approached as on wings of 
wind, and around them, enrobing them, was a bright 
cloud, which made them appear to me as if clothed 



52 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

with the sun. In their arms, as before stated, were in- 
fant spirits whose existence appeared to depend upon 
their care. 

As they drew very near, each would pause a mo- 
ment, poising in the holy and serene atmosphere, and 
then inclining to an appropriate position, would rest. 
This most glorious view in its delightful unfoldings 
was now somewhat changed, and my guide addressed 
me, saying, " Marietta, behold the order and glorious 
wonders of the first and most simple degree of a spirit- 
ual paradise. These angels thou hast seen in their 
employment, are ever engaged in this delightful duty. 
Here, as has been taught thee, infants assemble from 
the World whence we are; and from this blessed realm 
they are conducted to other and higher schools of in- 
struction : but before thou art permitted to advance, a 
solemn and instructive lessons shall be given thee." 

THE PHANTOM SPHERE. 

Suddenly a sable veil of nether night appeared to 
ascend, pervading and encompassing my being. My 
inner doubt seemed wrought into a cloud that shut out 
the upper glory, and the spirit of denial plunged me 
into the vortex of a deeper gloom. I fell as one pre- 
cipitated from some dizzy height. The embodiment of 
darkness opened to receive me., The moving shadow 
of a more desolate abyss arose like clouds in dense 
masses of tempestuous gloom ; and as I descended, the 
ever-accumulating weight of darkness pressed more 
fearfully upon me. At length a nether plain that seemed 
boundless was imaged upon my sight, which at a little 
distance, appeared to shine with the resemblance of 
metallic ores, and to be covered with the sparkling 
semblance of vegetation. Luminous appearances, like 
waving trees, with resplendent foliage, and flowers and 
fruits of crystal and of gold, were visible in every di- 
rection. 

Multitudes of spirits appeared beneath the umbrage, 
and luminous mantles were folded about each rapidly- 
moving form. Some wore crowns upon their heads; 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 53 

others tiaras ; and others decorations of which I knew 
not the name, but which appeared to be wrought of 
clusters of jewels, wreaths of golden coin, and cloth 
of gold and silver tissue. Others wore towering 
helmets ; and others circlets filled w T ith glistening and 
waving plumes. A pale and lambent phosphorescence 
was emitted by every object, and all appeared a splen- 
did masquerade. The apparel worn by these busy 
myriads corresponded with the ornaments of the head ; 
hence every variety of sumptuous apparel was dis- 
played upon their forms. Kings and queens appeared 
arrayed in the gorgeous robes of coronation. Groups 
of nobility of both sexes, also decorated with all the 
varieties of adornment displayed in the pageantry of 
kingly courts. Dense multitudes were visible in cos- 
tume proper to the highly cultivated nations ; and as 
they passed by, I discovered similar groups composed 
of less civilized tribes, attired in barbaric ornaments 
of every form. While some appeared clothed in the 
habiliments of the present day, others were in ancient 
attire* but every class of spirits manifested, in the 
midst of variety of mode, a uniformity of external 
pride, pomp, and rapidly moving and dazzling luster. 

Sounds of mingled import— bursts of laughter — ut- 
terances of revelry, of gay sport and witty ridicule, 
and polished sarcasm, and obscene allusions and ter- 
rible curses broke upon my ear. These again were in- 
termixed with impure solicitations and backbitings, 
and hollow compliments, and feigned congratulations, 
and all in one sparkling brilliancy, agitated the pained, 
bewildered sense. As I advanced, I walked as upon 
scorpions and trod as amid living embers. The trees 
that seemed to wave about me were fiery exhalations, 
and their blossoms the sparklings and the burnings of 
unremitting flames. Each object I approached by con- 
tact created agony. 

The phosphorescent glare that surrounded the va- 
rious objects burned the eye that looked upon them. 
The fruitage burned the hand that plucked and the lips 
that received it. The gathered flowers had emitted a 



54 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

burning exhalation, whose fetid and noisome odor, in- 
haled in the nostrils, caused excruciating pain. The fiery 
atoms of the atmosphere burned as they were wafted by 
me. The air and the blast that moved it, alike were bur- 
dened with the very elements of disappointment and 
wretchedness. Upon turning to see if I could discover 
a single drop of water to allay the fierce and intolerable 
thirst, fountains appeared, and rivulets flowed amid 
the herbage, and lay in calm and placid pools. Soon, 
however > I discovered that these corresponded with 
the former illusions, and the drops of spray from the 
sparkling fountains fell like drops of molten lead upon 
the shrinking form. The flowing rivulets were like 
the moulten river of metallic fire that streams from a 
furnace seven times heated; and the deep still pools 
were as the white and waveless silver in some glowing 
crucible, when every atom is burning with a fierce, in- 
tolerable glow. 

When in solemn contemplation of these fearful 
scenes, a spirit approached me whom I had known on 
Earth. This being appeared externally far more bril- 
liant than when in the body. The form, the counte- 
nance, the eyes, the hands, appeared endued with a me- 
tallic luster that varied with every motion and every 
thought. Accosting me, the spirit said : 

" Marietta, we are again met. You see me a disem- 
bodied spirit, in that abode where those who inwardly 
deny the Savior find their habitation when their mortal 
day has ended. Strange emotions agitate your bosom. 
Thus I felt, looked, pondered, and moved in sad and 
bewildered anxiety in the hour when my being here 
discovered the theater of its present existence. But I 
experienced that which you have never realized in 
the interior principles of mind. Strange and uncon- 
trollable are the emotions causing me to relate that in- 
ward sorrow which this brilliant exterior would, if it 
were possible, conceal." 

" My life on Earth was suddenly brought to a close ; 
and as I departed from the World, I moved rapidly in 
the direction prompted by my ruling desires. I in- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 55 

wardly desired to be courted, honored, admired — to 
receive universal adulation, and to be free to follow 
the perverted inclinations of my proud, rebellious, and 
pleasure-loving heart — a state of existence where all 
should be pleasure without restraint — where each 
should be free to obey the promptings of every passion, 
and where every indulgence should be permitted to the 
soul, — where prayers and religious instructions should 
find no place — where the Sabbath should not be known 
— where no rebuke of sin should ever fall — where 
existence should be spent in gay and festive sports, 
with no superior and restraining power to molest or 
interfere." 

" With these desires I entered the Spirit World, and 
passed to the condition adapted to my inward state. 
I rushed in haste to the enjoyment of the glittering 
scenes which you now behold. I was welcomed as you 
have not been, for at once I was recognized as a fit 
associate by those who here abide. They do not wel- 
come you, for they discern in you an interior desire, 
adverse to the ruling passions which here prevail. I 
was welcomed with gay and sportive sounds. The 
beings whom you behold in the distance rushed for- 
ward to embrace me. They shouted welcome ! wel- 
come ! I was awed, bewildered, and yet mentally 
quickened and energized by the atmosphere of this 
abode. I found myself endued with the power of 
strange and restless motion. " 

" I abandoned myself to the attractive influences 
that were around me, and sought to satisfy my craving 
desires for pleasure. I reveled, I banqueted, I mingled 
in the wild and voluptuous dance, I plucked the shin- 
ing fruit, I plunged in the ardent streams, I surfeited 
my nature with that which externally appeared de- 
licious and inviting to the sight and to the sense. But 
when tasted, all was loathing and a source of increas- 
ing pain. And so unnatural are the desires perpetuated 
here that what I crave I loathe, and that which de- 
lights tortures me." 

" Every object which I perceive I crave, and I grasp 



56 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

it in the midst of disappointment and gather it with 
increased agony. The voices which fall upon my ear, 
again burst from me in incontrollable utterances. I 
laugh, philosophize, jeer, blaspheme and ridicule by 
turns. The metallic ores, the waving trees, the shin- 
ing fruits, the moving phantasms, the deluding waters, 
seem to form a dazzling and mocking spectacle, which 
is ever before my eyes/' 

" I experience the power of the law of evil attraction. 
I am the slave of discordant and deceptive elements 
and their vice. This realm, curtained with a cloud of 
nether night, is one sea of perverted and diseased 
magnetic element. Here lust, pride, hate, avarice, love 
of self, ambition, contention, and blasphemies, reveling 
in madness, kindle into a burning flame. And that 
speciality of evil which does not belong to and unfold 
from one spirit, belongs to and unfolds from another ; 
so that the combined strength of the aggregate of all 
is the prevailing law. By this strength of evil I am 
bound, and in it I exist. Here are those who oppressed 
the poor; who robbed the hireling of his wages, and 
bound the weary down with heavy burdens ; the false 
in religious faith ; the hypocrite ; the adulterer ; the as- 
sassin; and the suicide, who, not satisfied with life in 
the external form, has hastened its close. " 

" Did mortals but know the dark and dreadful night 
into which they are sure to fall if they die unprepared, 
they would desire to lengthen the day of probation 
rather than to hasten its termination, however, multi- 
plied their scenes of sorrow, and to wisely improve the 
fleeting moments which quickly number Earth's pro- 
bationary scenes. Is man's weary existence fraught 
with grief while he walks the gloomy dells of death, 
and gropes along the brambly paths that mortals tread ? 
Here, on either hand, awake new and multiplied causes 
of accumulating gloom. Does hope of peaceful and 
happy days in the outer World flicker like the dying 
taper? In this abode are ceaseless, unsatisfied, and 
unholy inclinations Here also sense is infinitely more 
acute. What with mortals would produce only a pang, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 57 

enters into the very elements of our existence, and the 
pain becomes a part of us. And as immortality is the 
intellectual sensation of man unincumbered with physi- 
cal sense, and vastly superior in its ability to endure 
to mortality, in like proportion is the consciousness and 
capability of suffering here, superior to human suf- 
fering." 

" Marietta, I feel 'tis vain to attempt the expression 
of our deplorable state. I often inquire, Is there no 
hope ? And my sense replies, How can harmony exist 
in the very midst of discord ? We were advised of the 
consequences of our course while in the body ; but" we 
loved our ways better than those which exalted the 
soul. We have fallen into this fearful abode. We 
have originated our sorrow. God is just. He is good. 
We know that 'tis not from a vindictive law of our 
Creator that we suffer. O, sin ! thou parent of count- 
less woes ! thou insidious enemy of peace and Heaven ! 
why do mortals love thy ways ?" 

Here she paused and fixed her eyes, wild with de- 
spair, upon me. I shrank from the dreadful glare, 
for her appearance manifested inexpressible torture. 
While she was addressing me, a multitude of the for- 
lorn beings were moving around her, striving to sup- 
press their true feelings, while listening to her relation 
of the reality of their sufferings. Their appearance, 
her address and the scene which was before me, filled 
me with horror; and I sought to escape. Upon dis- 
covering this, her grief appeared to deepen, and she 
hastily said : " No, Marietta, leave me not, can you 
not endure for a short period the sight and relation of 
what I am continually suffering? Tarry with me, for 
I desire to speak of many things. Do you startle at 
these scenes? Know then that all that moves around 
you is but the outer degree of deeper woe. Marietta, 
no good and happy beings abide with us. All within 
is dark. We sometimes dare to hope for redemption, 
still remembering the story of redeeming love, and 
inquire, Can that love penetrate this abode of gloom 
and death?" Overcome by her deep feelings, she 



58 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

yielded to the manifestation of grief, and I heard her 
speak no more. 

A SPHERE OF HARMONY. 

As the voice addressing me ceased, I heard an angel 
as from some choral band, say, " Marietta, come up 
hither !'' and I arose into a cloud of light, which gently 
ascended. In its pavilion my spirit rested. The change 
how great, how marvelous ! A moment before I was 
with fear and wonder beholding an excited, suffering 
throng reveling in the madness of inflamed passions: 
passions cultivated while in the body to excessive in- 
dulgence. There, they had sorrow. There, were mani- 
fested, undisguised, the effects of evil of every char- 
acter, of demoralizing habits, secret purposes, and 
hidden iniquity. There were contentions, murmurings, 
and dreadful blasphemies, while the actors and suffer- 
ers were drawn together and held by prevailing ele- 
ments, the elements of their own perverted natures. 
And from their conditions I had learned that sin work- 
eth death, and happiness cometh not by disobedience, 
but by unsophisticated religious faith : faith in Jesus as 
the Redeemer which incites the true worship of God 
from a broken heart and contrite spirit. 

I was reflecting upon this scene when new light 
broke in upon me. I turned to see whence it issued, 
when, lo ! above me, I saw a loving being, clad in rai- 
ment bright as the Sun, reposing in the glory surround- 
ing her. Her countenance shone with heavenly good- 
ness. Calmly she dwelt in the midst of the divine ef- 
fulgence. She spake, and her voice filled me with de- 
light, saying, " Rest, spirit, rest. Let no care depress 
thee. Dismiss thy thoughts upon the scenes just 
passed. For every willing heart God hath in Heaven 
a mansion prepared. And whoso seeks shall find the 
Lord a present help in time of need. Those thou hast 
seen are in the element they indulged while in the body. 
As he who' falls from some dizzy height must bear the 
pain the wound imparts, even so he who lives and dies 
in sin, receives the counterpart. This is the law of 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 59 

being. Rest, Marietta, rest; for lo ! angelic bands de- 
scend. List, sister. That harmony, how sweet ! How 
gently it moves along the heavenly way ! It nears us, 
Marietta ; the volume swells upon the heavenly breeze. 
Its notes accent praises to our Redeemer. Heavenly 
anthems awake on every hand. Look up, Marietta; 
lo ! we are near a city wherein dwelleth righteousness. 
No evil enters there. No false spirit shall ever pollute 
the holy temples thereof. ,, 

I heard a voice saying, " Who could fail to praise 
God for existence, for immortality, and for the bliss of 
Paradise?" The infants caught the sound and under- 
stood the sentiment; and raising their hands, on each 
of which hovered a bird of many colors, whose war- 
bling notes had charmed their senses, they replied, 
" We will adore our Heavenly Father, we will ever 
mention with love and reverence the name of our Re- 
deemer. We will cheerfully be led, conducted by our 
guardian angels. And when prepared, and our under- 
standing properly enlarged, we will go forth as ser- 
vants of goodness, whither the Lord our Redeemer 
shall direct. In deeds of usefulness as well as with our 
voices, and upon stringed instruments, we will praise 
and adore the Lord most high. We will learn wisdom 
as Heaven reveals it to us, and when qualified, we will 
go to Earth to visit and impress with good and holy 
thoughts those there, who we have been taught, are 
our parents, brethren, and sisters." "Amen," answered 
the guardian spirits, " For this we delight to instruct 
your youthful intellects, and teach your spirits to wor- 
ship. For this exalted occupation we will unite in 
anthems to God evermore." Then each guardian 
moved her hand in token of a change, and all were 
soon in their former position. 

THE RETURN. 

The period at length drew near when I was to return 
to the World; and the infants, their attending angels, 
and those who had been employed in the various scenes, 
were congregated together. They sung a soft and me- 



6o VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

lodious hymn, during which they fixed their attention 
upon me. I felt more than ever their love, and the 
value of Heaven and heavenly associations.- At length 
the spirit who had kissed the Cross approached me, 
leading the two children, as on a former occasion, and 
addressing me, said, " Marietta, for a season thou art 
to leave us. We love and deeply sympathize with thee. 
Thou art beloved of all ; but it is our Redeemer's pleas- 
ure, and we cheerfully submit. Marietta, we joy in 
the precious promise of thy return at a time appointed." 
"Yea, in this we rejoice," said the multitude. "We re- 
joice also," continued the spirit, "because thou hast 
been permitted to visit, in spirit, these realms, and to 
behold some of the beauties, and to realize the harmony 
and divine order of paradisiacal abodes, and of angelic 
worship. Moreover, it fills us with delight to know 
that thou hast not only been permitted to behold, but 
thou hast been received and blessed by the Redeemer, 
in Whom we have life, and through Whom we obtain 
Heaven. We will give thee our spirit of love, and, as 
one, we will embrace thee, and patiently wait the happy 
period when we shall hail thee at the gate of the Holy 
City upon thy return." 

Then all arose and formed themselves into circles 
around me, and encompassed me as in a dome of 
spirits ; and the spirit who had addressed me pressed 
me to her heart, when I felt their influences as the em- 
brace of one. Present reflections upon that scene fill 
my soul with ecstasy, and to attempt its description is 
in vain. After this manifestation of love, the spirit 
led the two children to me, and they entwined their 
holy arms around my neck, and pressed kiss after kiss 
upon my lips, saying, " Marietta, when thou art again 
with those in. the outer World who love us, and who 
have mourned our loss, tell them we are happy; that 
we have no sorrow ; we are ever with our guardians ; 
that we love all, and Jesus our Redeemer above all. 
Tell them we shall wait with patience their arrival here. 
We love thee, Marietta, and will meet thee again." 
They once more embraced me, and withdrew; and the 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 6l 

spirit who led them to me said, " Marietta, trust thy 
Redeemer evermore. Relate on Earth the story of re- 
demption. Do well thy work of love." 

Then from a cloud Jesus descended, and placing His 
hand upon my head, addressed me, saying, " Child, for 
a wise purpose thou art to return. Be faithful to thy 
charge. Relate, as thou art able, what thou hast seen 
and heard, Fulfil thy mission, and, at the time ap- 
pointed, angels shall meet thee at the gate of death, and 
bear thee to mansions in the Kingdom of Peace. Be not 
sad; my grace shall sustain thee. In thy sufferings 
thou shalt be supported/' Then an angel gave Him 
a golden goblet, and He placed it to my lips. As I 
drank I was filled with new life and fortitude to endure 
the separation, and I bowed and worshiped Him; and 
He with His right -hand raised me up, saying, " Child 
of sorrow from a World of gloom, thou art redeemed, 
thou art blessed for evermore. Be faithful, and when 
thy course on Earth is ended, thou shalt enter into the 
joy of thy Lord." Then placing in my hand an olive 
branch, He said, '*' Bear this to Earth, as thou hast been 
instructed. " Again He laid His hand upon my head, 
and light and love filled my spirit. 

The time had come for my departure. I looked 
around upon the scenes of that lovely city and upon 
its happy inhabitants. I offered myself in thanksgiving 
to God for the blessings of immortality, and, above all, 
for the gift of grace in Jesus, who is the Redeemer; 
and before the multitudes I lifted to my Lord my hands 
and voice in prayer for support in that hour, that I 
might be kept in His love Who had blessed me. Then 
I was borne in the arms of angels to the gateway of 
the temple, where I first met the Lord ; and from 
thence — while angels chanted praise to God and the 
Lamb — with my former guide I descended to Earth; 
and entering this room where my body lay I soon 
awoke. 

The grave no longer wears a gloom. To me it is the 
most sacred place of all on Earth, There Jesus my 
Redeemer slumbered. There His body rested. There 



62 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

it was free from pain. Only let me be worthy, and 
cheerfully, at the time appointed, will I step into the 
grave, and lay my body down to rest, where, in peace> 
it shall await the morning of the resurrection. 

Patiently I wait the hour which I know is deter- 
mined, when I shall go hence and enjoy the fruition 
of those realms of bliss, where my spirit obtained its 
assurance o'f joys to come. I will praise my Heavenly 
Father for my hope in Jesus, which is worth ten thou- 
sand worlds to me. And when I arrive in Paradise, 
free from mortality, I will praise Him with an un- 
divided and pure heart, and with holy lips. There I 
will, in loud anthems, exalt the name of my Redeemer 
while Eternity endures. 



PHILIPPINA BEUERLY'S VISION. 



The original account was published in Germany 
about 1834; the work from which these pages are taken 
was published in English, in Philadelphia, in 1837. 
Philippina Beuerly was born at Weilheim, in the King- 
dom of Wurtemberg, Germany, June 2, 1816, and died 
in America, March 25, 1885. The name has also been 
written Pauline Dorathea Beuerly, and again Philip- 
pina Damuth Beuerly. 

JUVENILE YEARS. 

In childhood she exhibited no particular talents ; her 
faculties to learn were quite mediocre, reading and 
writing, she understood well, but as to singing, she 
never had any talent. Companions and amusements 
she never was very fond of, nor had she an inclination 
for dissipation; but for all that was religious she uni- 
formly showed a particular predilection. Among the 
main traits of her character were the following : 

She always found a peculiar pleasure in comforting 
the poor and indigent. She never slandered her fel- 
low-creatures, and always was a hater and enemy cf 
lies. To prayer she always attended assiduously, 
doubly so near the commencement of her state of 
somnambulism, but only in retirement; often would 
she withdraw and seek out for herself some little spot, 
where she thought herself concealed, fall on her knees, 
and pray to God. It was most pleasing to her when 
she could accomplish this, although unlistened to by 
others, a method which she yet pursues. Company has 
no particular attractions for her ; amusements, during 
which something frivolous or sinful might appear, she 
shuns entirely. Her occupations consisted in knitting, 

(63) 



64 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

sewing, spinning, etc. ; the books perused by her were 
ecclesiastical, such as the Bible, John Arndt's Real 
Christendom, Hartman's Sermons, Frederick Starke's 
Prayer-Book, his morning and evening devotions, and 
other instructive prayers ; also excellent hymns in our 
Wurtemberg Hymn-Book. 

In the beginning of the month of January, 1832, this 
girl complained of weakness, and soon after, about 
evening, fell into a short sleep. This, at first, was con- 
sidered an illness, and finally an idea occurred to those 
around her, to waken her, which, however, did not 
succeed, for they were compelled to wait until she 
would awaken of her own accord. At length, about 
the end of the month of March, 1832, in a sleep of 
somnambulism, which lasted nearly three quarters of 
an hour, she stated that a guide did show himself to 
her, whose person she described, and delineated as 
follows : namely, as a young man, apparently aged 
twenty-four years, of bright face, sharp eyes, but not- 
withstanding all their seriousness, very afifable. 

FIRST JOURNEY. 

On the 19th day of October, 1832, she fell asleep. 
This journey only went so far, that she was conducted 
by her guide into a very dark valley, where she said, 
and always did afterwards, " The darkness was so 
great and dense, as to be tangible." When this was 
passed, she came into a light place, where her guide 
told her that he would have to take the same walk with 
her back again, and that this was but a preparation 
for the three following journeys. No peculiar object 
was shown to her at this time. 

SECOND JOURNEY. 

The 23rd of October her guide performed with her 
a similar journey, and signified to her that after these 
two journeys he would take two journeys with her 
into the empire of the dead, where first of all he would 
show her the situation of the unhappy. She desired 
to be exonerated. Her guide replied thus: "That, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 65 

frightful as these dark valleys had appeared to her, and 
terrified as she had been at their sight, it would, in 
order to lead her further, be indispensably requisite 
that she should previously make a journey through 
the three regions of the unhappy ; at the same time he 
informed her, that the first journey would take place 
on the 26th, the second on the 28th, and the third not 
before the 31st of October. 

FIRST JOURNEY TO THE UNHAPPY. 

The 26th of October she fell into a profound sleep. 
The forenoon, during which the girl was quite cast 
down, was already a harbinger of a momentous scene. 
Her guide having appeared to her, he said : " Now I 
will show .you the first degree of the unhappy that 
have left this World. " Arrived there, she said that 
this abo'e was a dark valley, no end of which was 
discernible. 

On this occasion she was asked whether she had 
not met in this place spirits with whom she had been 
acquainted in this World. She said : " Yes, certainly, 
but she had been gravely and positively forbidden by 
her gui: 1 e to indicate them, as it was against the will 
of God." 

SECOND JOURNEY TO THE UNHAPPY. 

The 28th of October she was led by her guide to the 
second class of the unhappy. This place she again 
designated as a valley, larger, darker ; the forms as 
more hideous, describing the number of those that 
dwell here as innumerable, and not to be taken in at 
one view. She became so much afflicted with this situa- 
tion that she burst out into an unusual fit of weeping. 
She prayed: " Lord, teach me to act according to Thy 
will, for Thou art my God ; Thy good Spirit lead me 
to go the way I should go." Then she continued thus : 
" Those in the first degree are much to be pitied, but 
these still much more. Only imagine how dreadful it 
is, when the soul of man after his death is no longer 
refreshed by sleep, but pains and torments eternally 



66 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

continuing in equal degree ! My guide tells me : ' You 
wonder greatly at those in the first and second degrees, 
but how much more will you be surprised, when in the 
third degree you will be led to those that are quite 
unhappy/ " 

THIRD JOURNEY TO THE UNHAPPY. 

October 31st, as she had predicted, she fell again 
into a deep sleep. This time she was led by her guide 
through a large passage of dense darkness, and whilst 
going through the same she often exclaimed : " O, 
dear guide ! do not leave me alone !" It was very dis- 
tinctly observed how firmly she grasped him, so that 
the strongest man would not have been able to open 
her right hand. 

On her arrival at the third degree she burst into a 
flood of tears and an unusual loud fit of sobbing. 
Having recovered a little, she began of her own ac- 
cord to speak as follows : " I have given you a descrip- 
tion sufficiently sad of the first and second degree, but 
these sketches are not in the least to be compared with 
the third degree. The valley is much larger, and the 
number of those that are here are infinitely greater ; 
here is nothing but dismal sighing, murmuring, lament- 
ing, and gnashing of teeth ; the forms are more loath- 
some and hideous, and hardly to be looked upon ; they 
execrate and curse each other, and wrangle even with 
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The place appears 
to be densely dark. My guide tells me this is a real 
Hell ; from this there is no release to all Eternity ; 
these bear the name of ' the damned/ " 

Then she conversed again for a length of time with 
her guide, which was observed on her mouth and 
tongue, and then resumed by speaking these words: 
" The following I am permitted to reveal : having met 
among the three classes of the unhappy and damned 
not only multitudes, nay innumerable millions, which 
by far I could not take in at a glance, who then can 
be saved? To which my guide replied: "Are -you 
then unacquainted with the dear and true gospel of 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 67 

Jesus?' 'Straight is the gate and narrow is the way 
which leadeth unto life (felicity) and few there be that 
find it ;' and again — ' For many be called, but few 
chosen/ " She then continued : " My guide says 
that the number of the unhappy and damned is un- 
doubtedly much greater than that of the happy, but 
that the number of these is also by no means incon- 
siderable. That it is the earnest will of God that all 
men be led into .the right way, and that all should 
arrive at a knowledge of truth (those that perish being 
lost by their own fault), and that all those that do not 
truly and earnestly strive to be saved, according to the 
rules of the divine Scriptures, are rejected. ' Tell the 
inhabitants of the Earth, with emphasis, that here 
there is no respect of persons, whatever their state may 
have been in your World. I give you the most solemn 
assurance, that the greatest miser on your Globe of sin 
does not so closely watch his accounts, where his in- 
terest is concerned, as God does sin ; for God does 
not permit the inhabitants of the Earth to prescribe 
to Him His work. Particularly do I enjoin you to tell 
to those that with you dwell on Earth : of that which 
was foretold by Jesus, the Redeemer, and after His 
resurrection, by His apostles, not a letter will be taken 
away, sinful man may believe it or not, for here noth- 
ing will avail unto salvation but regeneration.' Why, 
then, do the sinful inhabitants of the Earth lay not 
greater stress upon the attributes of God, so well es- 
tablished, that He is omniscient, omnipresent, all- 
seeing, just, holy and true, and abuse His forbearance 
so unwarrantably?" 

After this, breaking into a flood of tears, she implored 
her parents and brothers and sisters, no other persons 
then being present : For God and Christ's sake, to use 
all diligence to be preserved from the abodes that had 
been shown her. " Dear parents, brothers and sis- 
ters !" she exclaimed ; " if every drop of my blood 
should change into a thousand tongues, it would be im- 
possible for me to paint sufficiently the torments of 
those damned to all Eternity. " 



68 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

THE FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE MOON. 

On the 2nd of November she performed the first 
journey into the Moon. The journey commenced, she 
said without being solicited : " The Moon is the near- 
est body to our Earth ; in four minutes I shall perform 
the journey thither." Immediately a watch, showing 
the seconds, was laid upon the table ; the moment the 
four minutes, up to the second, had elapsed, she com- 
menced by speaking the following words : " Now I 
have arrived here." Soon after she was asked by her 
brother, how the Moon did look in comparison with 
our Earth, when she replied : • - She much resembles 
our Earth, only the atmosphere here is much brighter, 
the climate finer and milder; here are mountains, val- 
leys, rivers, lakes, trees, forests, beautiful gardens, 
towns and many buildings, some standing by them- 
selves, and others near each other." 

After this, inquiry was made concerning the in- 
habitants, to which she replied : " The Moon contains 
the lowest stage of felicity ; those who after death are 
not immediately fit for a higher state of felicity come 
here. I shall perform three additional journeys to the 
Moon ; what I cannot indicate at present, I shall state 
during the others. I am only led to principal places. 
Now I am conducted by my guide into a very large 
building, in which a very large hall is shown to me, 
where I meet with none but grown persons of different 
ages, males and females, seated promiscuously in long 
rows near each other. I know here several persons 
of both sexes." 

Then she was asked concerning the occupation of 
these inhabitants of the Moon, when she replied: 
" This is for all a place of education, where they have 
their instructors,- worship God, sing, pray and learn, 
in order to become qualified for a higher state of 
felicity. This is their legitimate employment, but as 
soon as they attain a higher felicity, they are removed 
thither. I cannot leave it unnoticed that they perform 
■ delightful mime amongst themselves; and what I am 
particularly pleased with, is the great harmony and 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 69 

love which they bear toward each other ; hatred, envy, 
quarrelling, do not find place here ; how happy they 
are, I cannot tell you. I would deem myself the hap- 
piest being if I dare always remain here. On our 
Earth, the richest and most honored are far less happy 
than the lowest of these inhabitants of the Moon." 

" O, how strange it is, that if I want to touch one, 
it seems precisely as if I did reach at a shadow. And 
yet all can love God, sing and pray. Sleep overcomes 
none any more, night is here no longer, and of eating 
and drinking they also stand in no need. The de- 
ceased, the happy, as well as the unhappy, know each 
other and every one knows directly, what and who 
each have been in this World. This you may all take 
as a lesson: the deceased recollect in Eternity, where 
they no longer die, everything. Every sin, even those 
which they were unconscious of, becomes manifest to 
them here, every thought, good or ill, are plainly and 
clearly perceived by every one." 

Full of zeal, she continued: "My guide informs 
me, that now commences our return journey; ' but tell 
your fellow inhabitants of the Earth, that if during 
their life, they attain a knowledge of their sins, and a 
state of repentance, they will gain immensely.' Here- 
upon she was asked when she would perform the 
second journey to the Moon. To which she replied: 
''' To-morrow evening after three o'clock I shall fall 
asleep, at which time, however, my guide will not ap- 
pear ; I shall only perceive places of light. Not before 
Sunday, the 4th of November, in the afternoon, be- 
tween one and two o'clock, shall I perform my second 
journey into the Moon, but only during my last jour- 
ney into the Moon shall I be permitted thence to look 
down upon our Earth." 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO THE. MOON. 

The 4th of November, precisely at half-past one 
o'clock, she fell into a profound sleep. Here it is par- 
ticularly to be remarked, that during her first journey 
to the Moon, as well as the present, and in all her 



JO VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

journeys to the Stars, she respectively assumed each 
time another attitude or different features, which was 
more than plainly observed. 

She remained four minutes quite silent, and then 
began to speak voluntarily, as follows : " I am not 
only in the Moon, but my guide has conducted me into 
a city; on our Earth none can compare in beauty; the 
buildings are both large and handsome, the streets, 
however, not very wide, but the pavements comfortable 
and good ; it appears to me as if I was walking on 
velvet. The walks, however, are not covered with 
velvet, but only with the finest sand; but of my foot- 
steps I see no traces." She was asked whether she 
could tell the name of this city, to which she replied: 
" When I entered the gate I saw it written above ; I 
will now ask my guide ; he will be able to remind me 
of it." It was clearly observed that this was done, and 
soon after she said : " The name is Gethsamene ; my 
guide perambulates it with such quick steps, that I can 
hardly keep up with him." 

" Now a very long and large building is shown to 
me, into which I am led." After a short pause she 
said : " Now I enter into a large and long hall ; here 
the departed sit promiscuously near each other, in long 
and innumerable rows ; that love and harmony, which 
I found with the first, have also here their home, and 
it almost pleases me better here than with the first. 
But I must ask my guide why it is so quiet ; it appears 
to me as if all were to hear, exhibiting great reverence." 
Soon after she said : " My guide tells me, ' turn 
around and look whether you do not see two teachers 
standing here? At this present moment they receive 
instruction ; for this reason they sit here with at- 
tention/ " 

" However, beautifully as the teachers are dressed, 
the habiliments of my guide are still more brilliant. 
Instruction is deferred during our passage; teachers 
and pupils have for my guide a great regard." She 
was then asked how the departed did look, and how 
they were dressed ? To which she replied : " As it 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. J\ 

respects those whom I knew on our Earth, I perceive it 
quite plainly that their forms are much younger, but 
notwithstanding easily cognizable; their dresses are 
white, but they bear otherwise no distinction; their 
heads, too, are not crowned ; the clothes of the teachers 
are glistening white, around their loins they wear a 
rose-colored scarf; I am unable to tell you how well 
these garments become them." 

After this discourse, apparently in communion with 
herself, she remained silent for some minutes, but 
every by-stander perceived it plainly by the motion of 
her lips and tongue that she was conversing again with 
her guide. Soon after she recommenced speaking 
thus : " I have made inquiry with my guide concern- 
ing my two brothers, F F , born in the 

year 1808, and deceased in the year 1814, and J 

E , who died as an infant of fourteen days in the 

year 1820; I should fain wish to see them also, and he 
told me : ' Perhaps you actually see one of them.' 
Whereupon I answered : ' In the empire of the happy 
we are all brothers and sisters, I well know ; who are 
you then, and who were you on our Earth ?' To which 
my guide replied : ' The mother who carried you 
under her bosom and gave you birth, has also borne 
me ; I am your brother Frederick, and by divine com- 
mand was appointed your guide. I see my parents, 
brothers and sisters, and all the others, most perfectly, 
and know each of them, but their power of vision does 
by no means extend as far as that they should also be 
able to see me, for they are flesh, but I am soul and 
spirit. Tell them that I dwell in the Sun, where I am 
appointed a teacher to instruct those children, who 
if yet alive, would be between eight and nine years 
old/ " 

When she had finished this speech, she burst into a 
flood of tears with joy at having a brother raised to so 
high a state of felicity. She was then asked about his 
dress and form, which she described as follows : " His 
face is more brilliant than the Sun, his eye full of 
fire, and yet replete with love, his head is adorned with 



J2 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

a crown of jewels, his garment is of more than a 
shining whiteness, and, as it were, fastened round the 
loins by a red scarf; I am unable correctly to express 
the beauty of this color with words. My guide is now 
returning, and conducts me back to our terrestrial 
Globe ; he told me that during our next journey, he 
would show me some rivers that are in the Moon ; this 
will take place the 6th of this month, at one o'clock in 
the afternoon. As soon as my journeys to the Moon 
will be finished, I shall be taken to a star/' Thus the 
discourse ended ; a few minutes after she reopened her 
right hand, by which she always held fast her guide, 
as a signal that he had departed. 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO THE MOON. 

Each time that she fell asleep, she became previously 
quite silent. So it also happened on the 6th of No- 
vember, in the afternoon before one o'clock. The 
clock had no sooner struck the said hour, than she was 
already asleep. She said : " In four minutes I shall be 
in the Moon." This proved correct to a second, as 
after the expiration of that time she announced her 
arrival there with the words : " Soon shall I be led 
into a city, called Bethusalem. ,, After a short pause 
she resumed: "This city pleases me still somewhat 
better than the former, although that is also quite hand- 
some. " 

After passing through the same, she continued: 
" I am also this time conducted into a large building 
without the city, which yields in no respect to the other. 
The entry therein resembles that of the former in every 
respect ; now I enter the hall, which is somewhat wider 
than the former ; here the number of the deceased is 
greater, and I also meet with some that I knew on 
our Earth. Their garments are like those which I 
have already described. They have likewise teachers, 
and the purest love, harmony and frankness reign 
amongst them." 

" Now I come to a place, around which water as 
clear as crystal, is flowing in a circular ring; it ap- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. /3 

pears to stand still, which, however, is not the case. 
On the place, Gr the island, enclosed by the water that 
flows around it, stands a large and long building, 
which is higher than the one into which I have already 
been conducted; over the river leads a beautiful 
bridge." Arrived at the building, she said : " I am 
also conducted, into it; but here the hall is not below, 
as in the former, but I have to ascend a flight of steps. 
I now enter a large hall, in which again there are 
noue present but such as died on our Earth; here, too, 
harmony and love reign throughout, only, says my 
guide, those he showed me before, are a little in ad- 
vance of these ; they have also their teachers." Soon 
after she said : " Now I am conducted back." Dur- 
ing her return journey she was asked: when her fourth 
journey to the Moon would take place? To which 
she answered : " Next Thursday, the 8th of Novem- 
ber, at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon." 

FOURTH JOURNEY TO THE MOON. 

November 8th, 1832, several learned and other per- 
sons were present. She spoke to them, but when the 
hour of her sleep approached, she said: "Now I 
must lay myself down." And having done so, she fell 
asleep as usual. Asked where she was, she answered . 
44 Still here, but now my journey begins, and in four 
minutes I shall be in the Moon." The four minutes 
having expired to a second, she said, without being 
asked : " Now I am here." After a short pause she 
continued: " This day I am led by my guide up to a 
mountain." She was then asked its form, height, and 
magnitude, when she replied : " It is round, and 
around it stand trees : on the top there is also a beau- 
tiful plain with some trees, but which are not as large 
as those around the mountain ; the air upon it is ex- 
tremely agreeable ; I should like to be permitted to re- 
main here. The mountain much resembles the Lim- 
purg of Weilheim, but it lacks its great circumference 
and height. From the top of it I see a great many 
other mountains, forests, part of which are small, and 



74 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 



others large, rivulets, towns, villages, buildings, some 
of which stand by themselves, and others near each 
other. The mountain is called Sinao." 

" Now/' she said, " I am again conducted by my 
guide into the hall wherein I was the day before yes- 
terday ; my guide tells me that he has there to show me 
several things yet." Arrived there, she continued: 
" Here I observe several teachers, as with the former ; 
at present they are singing, and I never on Earth 
heard such a melody, nor can any be compared thereto ; 
other' music, however, I do not hear just now. That 
union, love, and harmony, which have here their home- 
stead, I am unable sufficiently to give you a descrip- 
tion of. I am not again conducted through the city, 
through which I was led during my third journey, 
but I am conducted to a spot whence I can look down 
upon the Earth." She was asked how large the Earth 
appeared to her. " Considerably larger than a nine- 
pin ball. The Earth is a dark body, and looks blackish 
from here, and is, probably forty times as large as the 
Moon. I would not have known that this round ball, 
which I see, is the Earth, if my guide had not informed 
me thereof with the words : ' Upon this black spot 
you live/ " 

At the desire of those present, she was repeatedly 
asked what the temperature was in the Moon, when 
she said : " I have already told you during each jour- 
ney, that I find it mild. I well remember that the 
learned state the Moon to be a cold body, but she is 
positively not so ; the person that travels through a 
country must surely know it better than one that only 
judges at random, and how could it well differ from 
my statement, being, as it is, a place of felicity ! My 
guide tells me that we inhabitants of the Earth are 
always ready to give our opinions, when one of our ac- 
quaintances, or a person we know, dies ; but these are 
generally quite erroneous, for God alone is the thor- 
ough-searching knower of hearts ; here none are judged 
according to their exterior, but most accurately accord- 
ing to their hearts." 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 75 

Having finished this speech, she signified that now 
her return was commencing, and that she would be back 
in four minutes, and that in the same manner in which 
her guide had led her upward, he was also now leading 
her downward to the Earth. During her return she 
was asked when she again would undertake a jour- 
ney, to which she replied : " Next Saturday, precisely 
at one o'clock. " 

FIRST JOURNEY INTO MERCURY. 

As soon as the clock struck one, the 10th of No- 
vember, 1832, in the afternoon she again fell asleep. 
Each time a few minutes elapsed before her guide 
joined her, and as soon as, according to the symp- 
toms, he seemed to have presented himself to her, she 
was asked what length of time she would need to ar- 
rive at the place mentioned. She said : " Seven min- 
utes. " Which again proved correct to a second, where- 
upon she said : " This, too, resembles a world ; I am 
led by my guide into a city, but which is much hand- 
somer than those cities which I have seen in the 
Moon." When asked the name of the city, she said : 
" Isaisalem. There I am led into a most beautiful 
edifice, and into a great hall." 

After having entered it, she became exceedingly 
overjoyed. " I again see here, as my guide tells me, no 
others but those that had lived on the Earth ; but they 
are all clothed in most beautiful white garments, and 
they have all red ribbands around their loins ; they are 
happier, in a considerable degree, than those that are 
in the Moon, although they also have their teachers. 
The music which I do hear I am unable to praise ac- 
cording to its euphony ; musicians of the World can in 
no manner be compared with those in Heaven. " 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO MERCURY. 

The nth of November she fell asleep precisely at 
the time she had predicted. The number of attending 
persons, learned and unlearned, was very considerable. 
After a short pause she said : " Now I commence my 



7 6 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 



second journey to Mercury." Being questioned w*:at 
length of time this journey would require, she sai : 
" In seven minutes I shall be on the spot." When 
three and a-half minutes had elapsed, she sai J of Ler 
own accord : '* Now it is half accomplished." " Now 
I am on the spot ; just now I arrive at the gate of the 
city into which I am to be conducted to-day; but I do 
not pass immediately through the gate; the entrance 
resembles a rampart, and glitters like gold, but my 
guide says that it is not made of gold, but that this 
kind of stone resembles it. I cannot sufficiently depict 
the splendor and beauty of this city which I now pass 
through ; the street is paved with large, white flakes ; 
the whitest marble is not so white, and not near so 
bright." 

She was asked the name of this city, when she re- 
plied: "It is called Jeremia; the town is pretty, but 
the streets are by no means wide, and the buildings on 
both sides are built alike. My guide tells me, those 
that dwell on the south side are a little in advance of 
those that dwell on the west side; that each has to 
pass through all the buildings periodically, until they 
are moved to a higher state of felicity. Now those 
blessed beings are also shown to me, to whom, on their 
departure from the Earth, habitations are assigned 
here, and those again in a separate building. My guide 
tells me that these are the lecture rooms, where they 
often have to meet ; tasks are also given to them, which 
they have to learn by themselves ; but these are not 
onerous, but a real pleasure to them." 

" I perceive here several whom I knew on our Earth. 
Ah ! now the music begins. After a little pause she 
said : now it is accompanied by singing ; the melodies 
and voices which are heard here, cannot possibly be 
compared with those on Earth ; they are entirely dif- 
ferent ; I know of no words to give you the least idea 
thereof. The harmony and mutual love which exist 
here, I cannot sufficiently express, for here prevails no 
respect of person ; here the person who was the most 
respected and wealthy in the World is not more thought 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. JJ 

of than he who was not minded at all in the World; 
according to the deeds done in the body, he is here in 
this life adjudged/' 

She burst into tears of joy, but began soon to speak 
in the following words: "I am called upon by my 
guide to tell, all of you the following : During my last 
journey which I made to (I must call them what they 
are) the damned, I heard the following amongst them. 
Here children curse their parents, and parents their 
children; I heard some of them say ; ' I curse the second 
when I was conceived, and the hour in which I was 
born ; why did I not as a monster come into the World, 
and why, like the tenderest suckling infant, was I not 
by violence deprived of life as unfit for the Earth which 
I inhabited, and on it committed all sorts of crimes ?" 

" My guide tells me during my journeys to the Sun 
I shall obtain an additional guide, as I otherwise would 
not be able to endure the splendor, and he is my cousin 
Gesman, named George Goelz." She then burst again 
into an ecstasy of joy, after which she was asked the 
employment of the blessed spirits, and she answered: 
" They have to learn ; I count here eight teachers, for 
learning never ceases throughout the Eternal Eternities 
(as my guide expresses himself), the use of which 
words by him 1 do not comprehend. " 

" My guide tells me many, nay an innumerable mul- 
titude, who appear very learned in your World of sin, 
and distinguish themselves, arrive here, the most of 
them, as the greatest fools ; they exclaim, one to the 
other : ' We fools have missed the right aim !' Let no 
one be sparing of, and put off his repentance to his 
deathbed. What I tell you, I say to every one : pre- 
vious repentance must prepare us for death, but not 
death lead us to repentance ; we must become dead 
to sin here in this transient World, if we will not 
perish eternally ; to gain salvation, is truly no trifle. 
Man must be born anew, and regenerated. " 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO MERCURY. 

On the.. 13th of November the somnambulist fell into 



y8 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

a lethargy at the precise time she had predicted. She 
said: " I am again conducted into a city, called Meso- 
potamia ; here also such blessed spirits as dwelled on 
the Earth, have for the present their home. It is 
always to be taken for granted that the purest love 
and harmony dwell with all the blessed; here nothing 
can be tolerated for a moment that would in the 
least disturb their felicity. Whilst I approach the 
building and hall, where I find the blessed at their 
meeting, I hear such sweet music and melody, that 
if all the musicians of Europe, as well as all its 
delightful singers, could be heard in concert, their 
music and singing could not in the least be compared 
with what I hear in this place. Mortal eyes would 
not be able to behold the beauty of the hall, the 
gracefulness of the blessed spirits, especially that of 
the teachers, who wear crowns on their heads, by 
which they are distinguished from the, rest, or mortal 
ears to hear the sound of the music." 

At the instance of a theologian, the question was 
addressed to her : " Of, and from what class of people 
the blessed inhabitants do consist?" A short pause 
ensued, and it was plainly observed, that she was con- 
sulting her guide ; whereupon she said : " Have I not 
every time said that inhabitants from the Earth are 
here? by whom I meant those of all nations and sects 
of religion. Are you unacquainted with that passage, 
or tenth chapter of the Acts, wherein it was shown 
to the Apostle Peter in a vision, that God pays no 
respect to persons, but in every nation he that feareth 
Him and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him? 
This is the state of things in blessed Eternity. In 
regard to nothing do mankind deceive themselves 
more than in their judgments respecting such as are 
deceased. My guide just now tells me, that in Eternity 
justice and impartiality prevail to such a degree, that 
the keenest human understanding would be unable to 
comprehend it; that no departed soul receives to the 
breadth of a hair, either too much or too little, be it 
either punishment or reward; but both are balanced 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 79 

most exactly; that the Eternal Wisdom knows how to 
equalize everything so well, that we shall be more than 
surprised." 

Having finished this speech, she said voluntarily : 
" This day questions may also again be put to me con- 
cerning deceased persons; my guide tells me that he 
will remain longer with me." Thus called upon, a 
much-afflicted mother of this place came forth, who 

desired information relative to her son, named G 

S ; he had learned the mercantile business with 

G H K S , in St : , and 

had gone on a journey of business by order of his em- 
ployers, the 28th of October, 1819, to W , in 

the Oberamt Geisslingen. Between H and 

E he lost his life; not until some days had 

elapsed his body was found near O in the 

Neckar, and taken out still quite recognizable ; he was 
twenty years of age. Much was said of this unfor- 
tunate accident ; some even suspected that he had 
thrown himself into the river Neckar, but as he could 
not be charged with the least misdemeanor by his 
employers, being beloved and esteemed by them, noth- 
ing else was to be supposed than that he had been 
violently murdered by some highwayman, in order to 
gain possession of the mule which he had ridden, laden 
with some hundreds of florins in cash. 

Being asked what had happened to him, and where 
now his soul was, she replied as follows : " Whoever 

has considered S as a suicide, has done him 

wrong, as he was not such, but he was violently mas- 
sacred. First he was flung from his beast to the 
ground ; and then received some severe cuts, which 
caused him to faint; then he was thrown into the 
Neckar, whence he could no longer save himself, 
owing to what before had happened. He that com- 
mitted the murder entirely missed his aim; he had 
believed that the creature would stay with its rider, 
but it escaped and the murderer could not overtake 

it, because it hastened in full gallop to St , and 

brought to the legitimate owners the full amount of 



80 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

the money. The murderer is still in this World, but 
on account of his bad conscience enjoys no rest neither 
day nor night. The unfortunate youth, however, 
dwells in the city of Mesopotamia ; just now he is 
pointed out to me by my guide; he plays on a harp 
and is very happy. His parents are, by all means, to 
compose themselves, as he certainly would not return 
if the whole World was bestowed upon him. ,, 

Of this story the somnambulist had hardly known 
anything, and as it was related by her, so the events 
had occurred according to all the proofs extant; all 
the persons present were astonished at this narration 
in so profound a slumber, particularly as the somnam- 
bulist had also never known the youth. 

Revealing so many remarkable things of the other 
World, and speaking of still more important journeys, 
she was asked at the instance of a clergyman, whether 
she would not also attain to a contemplation of God, 
when soon after she replied : " This is not granted 
to me, my guide tells me ; the highest gratification 
which will be permitted and granted to me, is that I 
will be allowed to cast a glance at the New Jerusalem, 
where I shall be permitted to see but a part of those 
attendants who wait on God. My guide tells me: 
that the least sin is great enough to bring man into a 
state of unhappiness, if he attain not during life, to a 
knowledge and pardon of the same, through Jesus 
Christ. Good deeds and a course of righteousness 
must proceed from the purest love of God and Jesus 
Christ. In one minute my journey commences. " Dur- 
ing the same time she was asked, how Mercury was 
formed and constituted ; when she said quite briefly : 
" Like the Earth, but every object is infinitely more 
ennobled; during my fourth and last journey thither, 
which I shall perform next Thursday, the 15th instant; 
in the afternoon at one o'clock, precisely, I shall be 
permitted to look down from it upon the Earth. " 

_ FOURTH JOURNEY INTO MERCURY. 

The 15th of November, at one o'clock in the after- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 8l 

noon, she fell again into a sleep, at the time predicted. 
She was asked when she would begin her journey, to 
which she replied : " Just now ; and in seven minutes, 
as I did before, I shall have performed it." This 
again proved correct to a second; when she had ar- 
rived, she said : " I am again conducted into a city, 
which is called Tilia/' 

" This time also I am led to the blessed, that have their 
home here ; the building is uncommonly large." Inquiry 
was made of what materials it was constructed, and 
what it looked like ; to which she replied : " It is built 
of stone ; but on Earth I never saw any of this kind ; 
they are transparent, and of a clear white. In the 
hall, the interior corresponds with the exterior, as 
also was the case with those which heretofore were 
shown to me. This hall is of immense length and 
proportionable breadth. The blessed sit in three di- 
visions, as at a table, and each has three teachers, who, 
as said before, distinguish themselves by crowns, more 
brilliant garments, and scarfs tied around their loins ; 
and although the blessed that are here, have also a very 
handsome appearance, yet the others visibly excel 
them. A mortal eye would absolutely be incapable to 
look upon the splendor that exists here, and this, my 
guide tells me, is far inferior to what hereafter will 
yet be shown to me, for if that, which I actually per- 
ceive, was shown to a person of the Earth but for a 
few minutes, he would become quite disqualified for 
our terrestrial World." 

Then she was again asked concerning the occupa- 
tions of the blessed, to which she replied in a some- 
what serious tone : " This question appears super- 
fluous ; did I not say before, that the employment of the 
blessed consists in singing and praying, the worship of 
God, His Son, and the Holy Ghost, and in learning? 
this never ceases to all Eternity. They now sing the 
hymn: 'Lord God, we praise Thee.' The teachers 
stand at the head, and are leaders. That I might but 
be permitted to stay here ! but this is at present re- 
fused me. I constantly learn more, and shall, agree- 



82 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

ably to the express injunctions of my guide, never 
discontinue my exhortations touching a real repentance 
and reformation/' The following questions were put 
to her at the instance of Mr. M. E., pastor of this 
town : " What fate did the poet Goethe, recently de- 
ceased, meet with ?" " He is a teacher in the Planet 
Uranus." Inquiry was made after Henry Jung (called 
Stilling). " He holds a considerable station as teacher 
in the Planet Jupiter." Inquiry was made, and con- 
cerning each separately, after the fathers of the 
Church: Luther, Melanchthon, Arndt, Spener, Bengel 
and Lavater ; to which she answered in regard to each 
respectively : " These are no longer teachers, but they 
are servants of God ; for the servants of God have to 
attend the throne of God; for although God does not 
stand in need of the advice and aid of the most blessed 
spirits, yet the holiness and glory of his Deity requires 
servants to bring orders, and again to commit the same 
to such as are less blessed, for execution. My guide, 
too, has to call for orders, but not on God Himself, 
but he must apply to the servants, what he may show 
me and how far he may lead me, for in the empire of 
felicity reigns the very greatest and best order; from 
it there is no deviation by the breadth of a hair." 

After a short pause she said : " I have asked my 
guide how it is possible that the orders of God can be 
brought and executed so quickly? Regarding this he 
has informed me as follows : ' The blessed spirits 
travel much quicker than lightning; they go far very 
soon. In the same manner, blessed spirits are also- 
able to pay visits to each other, the higher to the lower, 
and again the lower to the higher ; but to do so, a per- 
mission is always requisite, which is refused to none, 
but the one as well as the other must again return to 
the place assigned to him.' " 

She became quiet again, and another question was 
put to her, where the Prelate Oettinger had his resi- 
dence. " My guide says that he is at present in the 
Planet Uranus, playing on a harp." This declaration 
excited much attention, especially of the literati, who, 






VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 83 

from his writings and other accounts, were acquainted 
with his conduct in life, because they knew, that with 
playing on the harp he chiefly axnused himself in his 
hours of relaxation, and that it was the most pleasing 
musical instrument to him. Besides this, she was 
asked concerning several individuals, whose residence 
she indicated to be in different heavenly bodies. After 
replying thereto, she said : " In the Moon, in the Sun, 
and in the heavenly Jerusalem are the habitations of 
the blessed. In every Star there are inhabitants, not 
one of them is empty; if I should have to travel to 
all, it would require a long Eternity. As to those, of 
whom it can be foreseen that they led no good life in 
this World, forbear to ask me, because I would have 
to omit answering your questions. " 

Hereupon she again became silent, but soon after 
held such an exhortation to all that were present, that 
there was not one who did not burst into a flood of 
tears. First she depicted the situation of the damned 
and unhappy as wretched and deplorable, and then 
continued: "The hymn, ' O, Eternity, thou thunder- 
bolt/ speaks most awfully of damnation, but this is 
but a type of its horrors; if I would speak of it for 
days, I would be unable to depict more than but a part 
of their magnitude. The third degree of damnation is 
too terrible and painful ; there is not a second of alle- 
viation ever occurs, but the torments recommence con- 
stantly anew. If, when I was led thither, the vesture 
of my guide had not given me a little light, I would 
have been quite unable to observe them in detail, on 
account of the dense darkness which pervades the 
place, although I only entered a little distance, and 
therefore could but contemplate and behold the least 
part thereof. How will, she exclaimed with enthu- 
siasm, the atheist and deniers of a life hereafter, who 
yet are living, be astonished that they have so shame- 
fully erred in their opinions and deceived themselves in 
their views. If they could but hear one of their com- 
panions, who knows everything now from his own ex- 
perience, moan, wail, sigh, and speak for a minute, cer- 



gg= 



84 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. . 

tainly they would repent in dust and ashes, in order to 
escape from this place of torture.". 

During this discourse she was full of enthusiasm to 
such a degree, that it cannot be written down with 
what emphasis she spoke. Lamentable as on the one 
hand she described the situation of the damned to be, 
so on the other hand she glorified that of the blessed, 
and repeatedly besought every one most earnestly to 
become converted with all their heart and soul. " Con- 
sider only," she said in conclusion, " the word eternal, 
where no longer any end can be looked for. ' I will 
pray my guide to interpose particularly in my behalf 
with God, that I may in this World be well purified." 

She then again delivered such an impressive exhor- 
tation, with so great a zeal and decorum as to excel 
those by far, which have been enumerated already ; all 
that she said was referred to by her in the Word of 
God ; the Holy Bible; without exaggeration, nay with 
justice and truth it may be said of her, that the best 
orator on the pulpit could never have proved himself 
her equal ; a cold shuddering seized every person pres- 
ent, and tears streamed from every eye. 

" Let every one be most carefully on his guard not 
to give the least umbrage, by words or deeds ; bear 
it well in mind, and engrave it deep on your hearts, 
that an account must be rendered to God of every use- 
less word, if we do not previously obtain a knowledge 
and pardon for our sins, for in the next World the 
sins of man are so vividly put before his eyes, that he 
can remember each of them as clearly as if they had 
been committed by him but an hour before. You will 
not agree with me when I tell you that God condemns 
even for love, and yet it is so ; for God is nothing but 
love, and His justice requires it, that an unrepentant 
and stubborn sinner should perish." 

VISIT OF THE GUIDE. 

The 1 6th of November she arose with great anxiety 
and continued to complain of it more and more the 
whole forenoon ; after eleven o'clock she fell into a 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 85 

sleep, which often recurred, but never did her guide 
appear ; she also always awoke of her own accord, but 
her anxiety did not cease. At half-past three in the 
afternoon her sleep became more profound; when it 
had lasted nearly six minutes, she assumed an air of 
gaiety ; being asked what this meant, she said : " I per- 
ceive such a brightness as is usual when my guide 
comes to me." After the expiration of a minute she 
actually received him, and she said directly : " This 
time he does not accompany me on my journey. " 

But soon after she burst into a fit of weeping on 
her own account, and then said : " According to my 
opinion I had considered myself better and more pious 
than what I really am, but now my guide shows me 
the scroll of my sins : it is very large ; much is re- 
corded in it that I never thought sinful" Then she 
exclaimed with the greatest energy : " To how great 
an extent must the register of sins increase of a man 
who attains an age of sixty, seventy, nay eighty years, 
even supposing that he did pass with the world as 
honorable, moral, and popular, liable to the charge of 
no offence such as we call vice. Of those who wan- 
tonly extend their register, I forbear to speak, only I 
cannot neglect to repeat, that mankind, be they told 
ever so plainly, will not believe how rigidly God judges 
every sin. Not only those we commit by words and 
deeds are entered upon the register or scroll, but every 
bad thought is also charged to account. I do not 
know how to express myself, but it appears to me, as 
if the register of my offences laid open before me, 
was stated in columns, in such a manner, that every- 
thing done by deed, word and in thought, was each 
separately enumerated." 

FIRST JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

The 17th of November, she made her first journey 
into Venus. This journey she predicted so early as the 
10th of November. Then she was asked what other 
journeys she would perform after this. Whereupon 
she said : " Again into Venus. When my journey to 



86 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

Venus shall be completed, I shall make a journey into 
Jupiter." Finally she was asked whether she could 
not look down upon our Earth. When she said: 
" Yes, it looks blackish and appears to me not larger 
than a large ball, such as children play with. Now I 
commence my return, and will perform it by two 
minutes sooner than my journey hither. " 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

The 19th of November she made her second jour- 
ney into Venus. Having laid herself down, she said: 
" In six minutes I shall accomplish this journey," 
which again proved correct to a second ; she then said 
of her own accord : " Now I am again in a city, calleil 
Zeniria." Having composed herself, she was asked 
whether questions might also be addressed to her 
this day ; to which she replied : " Yes, but by no 
means such as are useless and of no avail." 

Then inquiry was made, at the instance of a clergy- 
man, concerning a clergyman, named Helferich, who 
for more than seventy years had not been heard from, 
who had not returned from a walk, whose fate to 
this hour remains unknown, not the least information 
concerning him having transpired ; his relations hav- 
ing conceived the very doubtful opinion that, on ac- 
count of his remarkably pious course of life, and hav- 
ing been so zealous a defender of religion, he might 
have been removed alive to the abode of the blessed. 
To this she replied : " His relations and friends have 
enred in their opinions ; he was killed by enemies, who 
would not tolerate his zeal, and he was buried with 
all his clothing, near and under an oak, which has long 
since been cut down ; if it had been dug up by the root, 
his bones would have become visible. His soul lives 
now in Uranus, where he is appointed as one of the 
principal teachers." 

After this, then inquiry was made concerning the 
learned and pious, principal teacher of the court, Dr. 
Storr, who died at Stuttgard, the 17th of January, 
1805 ; whereupon she said : " My guide says he is a 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 87 

servant of God." Then the martyr Huss was in- 
quired after, and the following answer was given : 
" He too is a servant of God, and stands at the right 
hand of Luther. The prophets and apostles are all 
servants of God likewise, for God is surrounded by 
innumerable servants." Another literary character 
caused inquiry to be made relative to the Emperor, 
Joseph II when she said : " He is in Uranus." The 
question was then put : where Gustavus Adolphus, 
King of Sweden, had his residence. " He," she said, 
" is in the Sun, an elect of God, and enjoys a great 
felicity." Finally inquiry was also made after Pope 
Clemens XIV, known in history as a pious and upright 
man ; of whom she said : " He is appointed as an 
eminent teacher in Saturn." 

The question was then also stated, how the Planet 
Venus was constituted ; to which she replied : '*' It 
resembles a world, but it is far nobler ; upon it are 
beautiful plains and also mountains, but not as many 
as on the Moon ; trees are here, and the most splendid 
parks, and the finest flowers. Next Wednesday I shall 
again ascend a mountain in Venus. I see again a 
great many blessed, and those of all nations and re- 
ligions ; let no one believe, that to profess this or that 
religion, induces a preference in Eternity. God does 
not judge according to this or that religious profes- 
sion, but agreeably to the heart, in which real piety and 
a living faith in the Redeemer of the world shall exist. 
Amongst the many nations, tongues and languages, 
that are here, reign the greatest love and harmony, and 
all know each other. My guide tells me : 'It is true, 
you cannot explain it to yourself, the origin of so great 
a love and harmony amongst such a variety of nations 
from your sinful World/ My guide does add, 'for 
here there is no longer any disputing about religion, 
where this one will reproach the other, your doctrine 
has these defects ; and the others, yours has those/ 
My guide says : ' here the many syllogisms carried to 
so great a height, are all dropped, for to every one it is 
but too obvious why it is so and not otherwise ; for here 



SO VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

there is an end at once to much of the patch-work 
in many, many things of your World/ ' 

She exclaimed, replete with a reverence visible on her 
brow and all her features: "Holy! Holy! Holy is 
the Lord God, our God ! O ! if but the heart of every 
human being was somewhat impressed with the great- 
ness of God, the names of God and his Son would not 
be so often used in vain by all mankind ; this sin is 
one of those which are not acknowledged by man, yet 
are great trespasses,, not one of which will be left out 
of the account.'' 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

The 2 1 st of November she made her third journey 
into Venus. Having arrived there, she said : " Now 
I require yet two minutes before I shall arrive at the 
mountain, which I have to ascend." And when ar- 
rived there . " Now I require four minutes to ascend 
this mountain." Both of which proved correct to a 
second. Then she continued : " Be it known to you, 
the mountain is called Tillig: now I shall require yet 
one minute before I am conducted on what appears 
to be a kind of a rock, yet is no rock, but quite an- 
other sort of stone; it is quite brilliant. I had to 
ascend up one hundred and eighty steps, which were 
all pretty high; here the progress is by no means so 
rapid as it was on my journey hither from the Earth ; 
this is effected in the same manner as it is done 
by men; the path and stairs to the mountain and 
upon the mountain are very narrow ; around the 
stone, upon which I am led, there is a splendid rail- 
ing for the surface of it is small, and exceeds not 
the double breadth of a table. Thence I overlook 
a great part of this Starry World, on which there 
are many towns, but as far as I can see, fewer 
mountains ; I only perceive one yet, which, however, is 
lower than the one I have ascended. But I lack words 
to describe all the beauties which exist here. If the 
inhabitants of Earth would believe that the enjoyment 
of felicity is so delightful, certainly the Earth we in- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 89 

habit would be quite different; but as it is, it is full of 
wickedness ; I say not too much, if I say it is a world 
of devils." 

" All the Stars are, as I have stated several times 
already, nothing else but worlds only that I cannot 
bring them in the least comparison with the World we 
inhabit, for here everything reflects rays of brilliancy 
and light. This star shines even on the Earth so bril- 
liantly ; imagine then, how beautiful it must be when 
you arrive upon it." Appearing to rejoice thus with all 
her soul, the persons present were diffident to question 
her; yet after a short pause, she resumed then of her 
own accord. 

" I see here no blessed spirits walk about, and yet 
is the mountain more transcendently beautiful, my 
guide contents himself at this time entirely with my 
own delight. Below, at the foot of the mountain, there 
is a lovely park laid out, the trees standing all in the 
finest order ; they look like firs, but they are not. 
There are several paths in various directions, but they 
are extremely small ; flowers of various kinds are also 
here, exhaling so delightful an odor, that I am unable 
to convey to you the least idea thereof ; I cannot in the 
least compare them with any flower on Earth, be it 
ever so odoriferous. Around the mountain, too, there 
are florets, w r hich are more diminutive, but of as de- 
lightful and refreshing a scent; and the green surface, 
which we call turf, is truly beautiful. Everything, as 
I have already stated to you, reflects the most splendid 
rays in all possible colors, and there is nothing left 
me but to admire. In two minutes I shall again leave 
the mountain. " 

FOURTH JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

The 23rd of November she fell into her usual trance, 
at the time predicted; no sooner had her guide ap- 
peared, than she said : " In six minutes I shall be 
again in Venus. " Having arrived on the spot and in 
the city she was to visit, she was asked its name, and 
replied : " It is called Sodia ; one city is always hand- 



90 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

somer than the other; the gates are, to be sure, 
spacious and magnificent, but the streets are narrower. 
The blessed that live on the south side, have a prefer- 
ence over those that inhabit the north or left sL:e, be- 
cause the former will be removed somewhat earlier to 
a place of higher felicity, for everyone that is blessed, 
passes through several habitations, before he attains a 
higher felicity/' 

After perambulating the city, she said : " I am 
again conducted into a large and splendid building 
which stands without the city. In it I have to ascend 
a flight of twenty steps ; the stairs are not very broad, 
but exceedingly beautiful, and the railings are so mag- 
nificent and bright, that I do not dare to touch them ; 
I hear delightful singing; I come to the doors of the 
hall, these excel in beauty. I enter and listen to the 
hymn, ' Praise ye the Lord, the mighty King of glory.' 
At the head of each row stand the teachers ; they again 
bear marks of distinction from the learners ; their faces 
appear supernatural and bright. At the side of the 
hall, but somewhat elevated, nearly fifty are standing, 
who play upon harps. " 

She was then asked how these harps were formed, 
and she gave the following account concerning them: 
" They are not unlike the harps used on Earth, but 
they are far more elegant and handsome, and the tone 
which resounds from them is heavenly. The splendor, 
love and harmony, which reign here amongst the 
blessed, I am unable to express with words, or to 
convey an idea thereof; all I say is too incomplete." 

She was then asked whether she did perceive or 
meet with any animals like those on our Globe ; where- 
upon she said : " As yet I have neither perceived nor 
seen any." She was then asked whether she would 
not also come into Paradise, where the malefactor, who 
sufifered with Christ, found a reception. To which 
she replied : " Yes, but this will happen during one 
of my last journeys. I must yet mention something 
else; the hall, which is shown to me to-day, is not near 
so full as the one in the Moon; and I have also met 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. QI 

with far more blessed spirits in the Stars which I have 
already visited. To attain a felicity such as exists in 
Venus, infinitely much is required ; improvement in 
Eternity does not progress so rapidly, but only from 
step to step/' 

She now again delivered a very serious discourse to 
all, and concluded with most heartfelt prayer that they 
might all use every possible effort to be saved. After 
this she was again asked whether the blessed were 
always in the hall ; when she said : " No ; but I have 
told you once already, that they have their habitations 
in the city ; when they' are in the lecture rooms, then is 
the city as if it were depopulated, whence it happens, 
that I never see any one in it. They also perambulate 
the environs around the city, in which there are the 
handsomest gardens ; but the paths in them are all 
very narrow, and yet very pleasant to walk upon; 
there are flowers so beautiful as the Earth neither does, 
nor can produce, for the soil does not bear them; these 
retain their refreshing perfume, nor do they decay ; the 
blessed also never become weary of them, for my 
guide tells me that they constantly discover something 
new in them, which inspires them with admiration 
and the greatest veneration for the infinite greatness 
of God." These words she also again connected with 
a very serious admonition to repent and become con- 
verted. 

FIFTH JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

The 25th of November, she again fell into a trance, 
as had been predicted by her. Having received her 
guide, she said : " In six minutes I shall have com- 
pleted my journey hither." When she had arrived on 
the spot designated, she commenced to speak. " Now 
I am taken into a most beautiful little park; I shall 
require three minutes for my passage through the 
same. The trees stand in well-arranged rows, they are 
all of the same height and thickness, and their tops 
incline towards each other in a most beautiful manner. 
This scenery always remains handsome and agree- 



92 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

able; no tempest injures it, no cloudy day deprives the 
same of its pleasantness, and neither frost, cold nor 
snow derobe the trees of their foliage or strip the 
flowers of their bloom, in Eternity all changes of this 
kind have ceased/' 

" Now I come to what appears to be a gate ; it is 
of the size of a common gate, and has pillars, which 
are quite round, and although white, yet their white- 
ness is mixed with a rosy redness, and as I often am at 
a loss to describe beauties, I must also now be silent/' 

After a short pause she continued to speak: '" Now 
I am introduced into a garden, which appears to be 
surrounded by a wall ; at the entrance or gate stand 
two pillars, adorned above as with crowns ; the stones 
are again of a peculiar kind, they are white, or a blue 
shade, and resemble alabaster, but they are much finer ; 
I observe no joints, the whole seems to be composed 
of one piece. To describe to you the beauty of the in- 
terior of the garden is impossible for me. The per- 
fume exhaled by the flowers and herbs in this spot, 
my guide tells me, no mortal could bear. Here are 
also trees, and upon several I see the most beautiful 
and delicious fruits/' 

She remained quiet during a few minutes, when she 
re-commenced and said : " I have asked my guide 
how it happens that the blessed who are here, having 
adopted refined bodies, yet do they speak, sing and 
play upon harps, and when I stretch out my hands to 
touch one, it is as if 1 were to seize a shadow ; whether 
they enjoy the odor which prevails here, and the fruits 
that are on the trees. Whereupon my guide tells me : 
' you are but spiritually here, not with your soul, and 
yet you partake of the delightful scent, but the blessed 
enjoy it in a much higher measure As respects the 
enjoyment of the fruits, the matter is thus: they do 
not eat them in reality, but they derive from them a 
sense of taste, as if they actually enjoyed them/ My 
guHe further tells me: ' when a person dreams (which 
is the constant waking of the soul) it often happens 
to him as if he had enjoyed the most delicious viands, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 93 

fruits and beverage, and when he awakens he finds 
that his body and soul are empty, with the blessed it 
is different, although they do not taste them, find them- 
selves satiated. Whilst wandering through the gar- 
den with my guide, two created angels pass me, who 
look upon me with the most cordial love and affability. 
At a distance I again see six created angels, who are 
coming to meet me ; they pass in a similar manner." 

'* Now I am led into the city named Sorizzia, which 
is far handsomer than the former ; of this beauty I 
can give no one an idea. The road thither from the 
garden is of a bright red color, but also narrow ; the 
gate or entrance into the same is adorned with several 
magnificent little towers, which are inexpressibly beau- 
tiful." Whilst she wandered through the city, nothing 
was observed on her features but an extraordinary in- 
dication of astonishment; after thoroughly passing 
through the same, she said : " Now I am again taken 
into a great edifice, where those blessed that live here 
hold their meetings ; before it there are four flights of 
steps, in the interior I have again to mount a flight 
of twenty steps ; if the former were splendid and 
beautiful, these are much handsomer; before the 
entrance into the hall, two bright red columns are 
erected, which are more than admirable." 

"Just as I am entering the hall, my guide shows me a 
youth of twenty-one years, from America, who ar- 
rived here but two hours ago, who died of the cholera ; 
this morning at eight o'clock he was attacked by this 
sickness, and at ten o'clock he was already a corpse. 
His father, a clergyman, is sixty-one years old, the 
mother fifty-six, and he also has three brothers and 
sisters." When she was asked where he formerly 
lived, she named: ' ; Philadelphia." Then the name 
of the father was also asked, but she replied: "Be 
satisfied for the present with this. The joy which per- 
vades the blessed, if there be one introduced amongst 
them straight from the World, is inexpressibly great. 
In our World, kings and great lords are often re- 
ceived with extraordinary pomp, music and honors, 



94 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

but these are worthless gewgaws in comparison with 
those displayed when a blessed spirit is taken to his 
home. The music, songs and joy which pervade 
Heaven can neither be described nor expressed. " She 
resumed: "If a blessed spirit is removed from this 
to a higher degree of felicity, he is consecrated by the 
teachers present, and thence he is accompanied by the 
created angels. During my last journey into Venus, 
my guide tells me, I shall be permitted to witness such 
an act of consecration. The created angels bring with 
them the orders that this or that person be qualified 
for a higher felicity." 

" Again I must remind you, that in a state of felicity 
there exists absolutely no respect of persons, for God 
only judges according to the heart. Here there is no 
privilege, no preference granted, neither to religion, 
nation, sex, nor descent. In the empire of Eternities 
reigns alone a true and just equality; in this World it 
is as impossible to establish it as to find it ; this is only 
possible in such regions where neither self-love, nor 
pride, hatred, envy, strife, etc., exist any longer." 

SIXTH JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

She again fell into a trance on the 26th of Novem- 
ber, and required precisely the same time for the per- 
formance of the journey, as she had done before. 
" I am again conducted by my guide into a city, called 
Sora ; but it again is handsomer than the former ; the 
farther I proceed, the more glory I behold. I hear 
music resounding from harps, but as yet from a con- 
siderable distance. The gates and buildings are again 
handsomer than the former, the street through the 
city is again not wide, but is exceedingly beautiful. 
Ah ! so manifold is the magnificence, that 1 am at a 
loss where to begin, and find that I have omitted to 
state so much of what, nevertheless, can be so easily 
comprehended, namely: that the buildings in all the 
cities are like each other, only with this difference, that 
they increase in beauty as the felicity rises in degree ; 
it appears as if one side of the street was but one 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 95 

building, but it is not so; the whole of them are also 
amply provided with the most splendid windows ; by- 
streets, I have never observed." 

" Now I am led again into a splendid edifice with- 
out the city; the windows in this are again as large 
and beautiful as they were in those in which I was 
heretofore ; to give you but a very small comparison, 
I must say: it appears as if the windows were il- 
luminated by the rays of the setting sun, assuming and 
reflecting a yellow, gold-like luster. I have again to 
ascend twenty flights of steps; if the stairs and rail- 
ings in the former buildings were handsomely and 
splendidly executed, these again excel them in beauty ; 
before I enter the hall, I come to a large portal, for 
all the convention rooms which I have yet seen and 
were shown to me, are all very high; but this is the 
case with them more or less, for these too are con- 
structed according to the degrees of the felicities ; at 
the entrance of this portal there are two magnificent, 
nay more than beautiful columns, the top of which are 
adorned with crowns, which excel in beauty. " 

She was asked whether she knew none of the teach- 
ers present ; to which she replied : " Why do you ask, 
not having known them ? A clergyman is here named 
Wurm ; my father is^ well acquainted with his son. 
The teachers are also removed, and do not always re- 
main in "the same spot, as felicity constantly increases 
in bliss. The brightness by wdiich the blessed are sur- 
rounded it is impossible for me sufficiently to describe. 
In the center of the hall which is large and very com- 
modious, a very large crown is suspended. O ! how 
will those that now scofif at my declarations, yet be cast 
down and humbled; if not in this World, certainly on 
the other side of the grave ; let them be saved or not, 
they will every one of them have to give the testimony 
that what I have stated was the fact. God, the Omni- 
potent and Omniscient, is my witness, that truly I am 
no imposter ; I proceed not a point further than what 
my guide says, and commands me to say " 

She was then asked the number of the blessed here 



90' VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

present ; to which she replied^ " Their number is 
2,384; but the hall could contain a considerably larger 
number. What I have so often said, is also here again 
applicable in the most extensive sense; that the har- 
mony and equanimity of the blessed cannot be suffi- 
ciently praised and eulogized ; as little am I capable to 
express the euphony of the music and singing." After 
a short pause she continued : " I have besought my 
guide, that if it coincided with the wisdom of God to 
cause the dissolution of my terrestrial frame, I might 
be permitted to remain here ; but he tells me, that if 
that could even happen, I would not yet be qualified 
for such a state of bliss, but that I must first proceed 
further; that I should use every endeavor to deserve 
immediately such a felicity, but that this will require 
the most zealous care and vigilance. " 

On Wednesday, the 28th, I shall perform my last 
journey into Venus, when I shall be conducted into a 
temple, where those that attain a higher state of 
felicity will be consecrated by their teachers, and then 
accompanied by the created angels. My sincerest wish 
remains always this, that 1 might but be permitted to 
stay here !" 

Unexpected to every one, she then said : " Hence- 
forth I shall remain yet seven weeks in this situation/' 
During those moments whilst her guide took leave, it 
was observed, that she paid particular attention; at 
length she was asked, what had been the purport of 
the remarks of her guide when he took leave from 
her ; to which she replied : " He quit me with these 
words: 'The Lord bless thee and guide thee, and 
let His face shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee, 
and give thee His divine peace/ " 

SEVENTH JOURNEY INTO VENUS. 

On the 28th of November she performed her last 
journey to Venus. She said : " The city which I now 
pass, and which I shall but be permitted to wander 
through on my return, is called nearly like the one 
before, namely Sorr ; and from its outside again ap- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 97 

pears to me to excel the other in beauty. I shall yet 
require four minutes in order to arrive at the temple 
that has been indicated, and which in our language 
has the name of the temple of consecration. I hear 
from a distance music and singing that excel in sweet- 
ness. Now I have passed the outside of the city, and 
am introduced into a garden. Ah! everything is di- 
vinely beautiful! Now I have arrived at the temple, 
the exterior, magnificence, height and beauty of which 
I am incapable sufficiently to admire. I am conducted 
into it ; it is quite round and very high ; all around it 
runs a gallery, upon which the singers and harpers are 
standing; these perform so delightful a music, that no 
mortal could bear it. The interior surpasses the ex- 
terior by far in beauty, and I am utterly unable to state 
the least particulars or to convey to any one the least 
idea of it. In the center of the temple stands the altar, 
on both sides of which two of the blessed spirits of 
those that died long since are standing, who, as it were, 
as witnesses attend it. Those persons or blessed 
beings who are to be promoted to a higher degree of 
felicity, I do not yet see. Now the doors are opened, 
and those that are to be consecrated enter with the 
quickness of lightning with the teachers. Now the 
holy and solemn act begins. Those that are conse- 
crated lay their hands upon their breasts, but the 
teachers lay their hands upon their heads, and pro- 
nounce benediction over them ; but what is said I do 
not understand ; my guide tells me : ' it is spoken in a 
language, which as yet is unintelligible to you, and 
cannot be interpreted to you/ But with what dignity, 
yet profoundness of respect and humility towards God, 
the teachers stand here, and what virtue must be in 
their words, judging from the seriousness and rever- 
ence with which they pronounce the same, I am unable 
to tell ; in like manner those who are consecrated stand 
here in the deepest humility, only with this difference, 
that the features of the latter seem to me to indicate 
a peculiar gladness. I am quite ignorant of what has 
happened to me since the termination of this act, the 



98 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

witnesses, teachers, and those that were consecrated 
have at once disappeared, and music and song have 
ceased to resound. Peculiarly indulged, I am per- 
mitted to stay two minutes longer, in order to behold 
but a few of the beauties of the altar ; the least I can 
say of it is this: the altar is square and pretty large, 
each corner is ornamented with a high, round column 
of the thickness of a man and the top of each with 
crowns, and around it there are again several smaller 
and thinner columns all transparently white and shin- 
ing, the material which they are composed of I do 
not know ; the plate of the altar is covered with a 
cloth of the clearest white silk.^ 

She was then asked to what place those that were 
consecrated had been promoted ; to which she replied : 
" They are removed into Jupiter, to which planet I 
shall perform my first journey to-morrow. This re- 
sembles a school; as soon as one becomes qualified for, 
and capable of a higher degree of felicity, he is pro- 
moted thither. To Jupiter I shall perform in all eight 
journeys. Now I return to the garden, in which the 
blessed spirits enjoy peculiar delights; everything with 
them is so child-like, yet far from being childish. In 
this garden are many paths; spirits walk to and fro, 
and often vanish again so suddenly, that I hardly per- 
ceive it. My guide has quit me, but this makes no dif- 
ference ; if I were only permitted eternally to remain 
here ! The sweet scent exhaled by the flowers and trees 
is stronger than heretofore. The garments of the 
blessed are shining white, but the teachers wear 
crowns upon their heads. I approach the city, and 
again hear the most delightful music, but I am unable 
to mention a single tune. The city is exceedingly 
beautiful, and the environs are quite level and ex- 
tremely pleasant ; alas ! that I have tc leave them. 
Now my return commences. In four minutes I shall 
have performed it." 

FIRST JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

The 29th of November she made her first journey 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 99 

into Jupiter; she stated that she would perform it in 
eight minutes, which proved quite correct. On her 
arrival there, she said that another minute would be 
required until she could arrive in the city. When she 
came to it, she could not sufficiently admire the beauty 
and height of the gate, and still less describe it; she 
remarked that the entrance into the same was pretty 
wide, but the street through the city narrower ; yet very 
handsome nay, admirably beautiful. The city was 
called Narr, surpassing all those in point of size and 
beauty which had been shown to her in the Stars she 
had previously visited.- 

If she had hitherto exhorted every one present to 
repent and reform, she now admonished them with so 
great solemnity and zeal, that the best orator could 
not have emulated her. She reminded every one very 
emphatically not to be saving of their knees whilst at 
prayer to God, and continued thus : " The stubborn 
knees of our wicked race will yet have to bend, and 
the tongue of the scoffer confess that He is the Lord 
to judge the living and the dead. That man, who ap- 
pears to the world wholly unblamable, sins notwith- 
standing a great deal, not to mention the gross, frivo- 
lous, and wanton sinners. " 

Having finished this colloquy, she said : " I am 
again led into a building situated without the city, in 
which there is a great hall ; this again excels in beauty 
and splendor. The number of the blessed therein 
present, is not very great ; they distinguish themselves 
from those I have met with in Mercury and Venus by 
this : that they wear crowns on their heads, which, 
however, are not very large ; the crowns worn by the 
teachers are larger ; just now they receive instruction, 
for which reason I hear neither music nor singing. 
Now I am conducted into a garden, at the beauty of 
which I am quite astonished and cannot sufficiently 
extol the sweet scent which pervades it." 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

On the 30th of November she fell again into a 



100 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

lethargy. She said: " Now I am conducted into a 
city, called Raguel, which is handsomer than the 
former; I come again into a large edifice without the 
city, and have to ascend in it again a flight of twenty 
steps ere I shall enter into the meeting hall. Whilst 
I am led into it, a hymn is sung after the melody: 
' O, Jerusalem ! thou beauty, how splendidly thou 
shineth/ The number of the singers here present is 
not large; they sit apart; their garments, as well as 
those of the teachers, of whom I count six, perfectly 
resemble those which I have described during my last 
journey." 

She urgently and seriously admonished her parents 
to educate their children, in the first place, with love, 
and then, if it should become necessary, with rigor, 
continuing thus : " My guide tells me that the num- 
ber of parents who did ill educate their children, gave 
them bad examples, and even led them astray into the 
commission of sin and bad actions in which they 
participated, whereby both parties came to be damned, 
cannot be counted ; for children being a gift of God, 
their blood will be demanded of their parents ; instead 
of increasing the number of the blessed, they diminish 
it. Not only will the mischief extend to the one party 
exclusively, but children, who have received a bad and 
wretched education, generally again bring up bad 
children. Ah ! dear parents, think of the damnation 
parents may load upon themselves ; the charge will not 
remain confined to them, but will often descend, as my 
guide tells me, to the fifth and sixth generation, and 
still much farther, during the whole of which the one 
will cast the blame on the other. O! how sincerely 
I desire that each of the parents may rightly consider 
the measures they ought to take and pursue in regard 
to the education of their children, for it is of vital im- 
portance. As soon as a spark of intelligence is dis- 
played by a child, the foundation must be laid for 
that which is noble and good; if even not all the 
precepts that are given them should strike root, many 
will, and good examples set by the parents, leave a 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. IOI 

lasting impression upon their minds.'' She then em- 
phatically recurred to the inexpressible punishments 
that await the unhappy and the damned, etc., repeat- 
edly exhorted to serious repentance and conversion. 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

The 2nd of December she performed her third jour- 
ney into Jupiter; during her second journey she had 
mentioned that precisely a quarter before one o'clock 
she would lie dowm, which happened sc to a minute. 
Having received her guide, she declared that this time 
she would perform the journey thither in but eight 
minutes. Approaching the city, she commenced to 
speak thus : " The further, the handsomer ! The 
name of this city is Gidon ; the gate that leads into it, 
is again beautiful. How much I desire that but one 
of those now present could cast a glance on it and at 
the city, but I know that to the eye of a mortal it 
would be quite insufferable; I can hardly bear their 
splendor and brilliancy. The pavement is composed 
of large flakes of stone, of a bright red color, well 
joined into each other; in the other cities it consisted 
of flakes of stone, partly of a white, and partly of a 
yellowish color. In this city I again perceive no in- 
habitants ; my guide tells me that none dare stay when 
instruction is given, nor does any one choose to absent 
himself, and that for this reason the cities are so 
vacant, but that when the lessons are ended, every 
one returns to his dwelling, that everything has its 
appointed time, although my guide does add * in Eter- 
nity there js no longer any reckoning by time.' Nor 
have I as yet noticed in all the cities, through which I 
have passed, any watches or clocks ; nor is there any 
need thereof, for here it is quite different, inasmuch as 
night never lowers on the blessed ; sleep overcomes 
none, for evervthing like human infirmity has ceased 
here." 

" Now I have already passed through the city ; I am 
again conducted into a building situated without, 
which is called the meeting-hall, a name which the 



102 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL 

former also bears; the building itself is more than 
beautiful; I have, from within the interior to ascend 
five and twenty steps before I can enter the meeting- 
hall. I am introduced into the hall, which again excels 
the former in beauty; it is very high, and .every 
twentieth pace chandeliers appear to be suspended, but 
they are none, (because candles are here needless) 
notwithstanding they reflect a strong light and bril- 
liancy. Here, also, six teachers are appointed; they 
wear crowns that are all equally beautiful ; their faces 
and garments shine with clearness ; the blessed, too, 
who are receiving instruction, wear crowns, with this 
difference, that they are obviously smaller than those 
worn by the teachers. The number also of those 
present is by no means large. The harpers stand ele- 
vated and wear crowns like the learners. I have al- 
ready been asked how many strings there are upon a 
harp; I count ten of them; but they are more than 
beautiful; the singing and music surpass all human 
comprehension. " 

" My guide tells me, that to an intuitive vision of 
God I shall not arrive, that the indulgence to be led into 
the city of God, the New Jerusalem, and to be per- 
mitted to see some of the servants of God, amounts to 
a great deal; that he, himself, has not yet seen God, 
it being a great favor to be permitted to see only the 
city, and to get into communion with the servants of 
God. But this I am by no means so to understand, as 
if God was not love in the highest sense ; but "that from 
His sanctuary all commands are issued, and the lowest 
and most despised are not unknown to Him; that all 
worldly governments, however absurd, are tolerated 
by Him and eventually lead to an excellent result. 
That it would one day make a mighty difference to the 
learned and unlearned in Eternity, to arrive at a 
knowledge of those counsels that appeared cruel to 
them, when only they will obtain a glimpse of the wise 
government of God. ' Ah !' added my guide, ' I can- 
not elucidate the matter further to you ; what I have 
said must suffice for the present/ " 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. IO3 

Then she resumed her discourse as follows : " My 
guide tells me, God aims at a complete salvation of 
every one but this must be preceded by real repent- 
ance, and regeneration ; unless man has first under- 
gone this change, it is impossible. No matter how- 
great the number of persons that perish, every one is 
lost by his own fault. There is not a human being, 
especially amongst those to whom the Word of God is 
revealed, who does not often receive a gracious call 
in many ways, and by different means ; but he that re- 
jects and will not listen to the same, must take the 
responsibility. Be assured, that mankind will after 
death be made most visibly sensible of this, whereby 
they will become their own accusers. Those that now 
judge me with so much derision and contempt, will 
learn by their experience, that I have spoken the truth. 
Not those hereafter will be my judges, but God is the 
judge of my cause. God is certainly a God of mercy, 
but His justice stands, as it were, in equipoise with His 
compassion. Only by a serious and firm adherence to 
a living faith in the Son of God, the Redeemer of the 
world, can salvation be gained. The Son of God is 
the only and sole Mediator and Intercessor between 
God and man." 

Then she was asked whether there are also any stars 
beyond the Sun; to which she replied: "Yes, un- 
doubtedly, an uncountable number ; even in a fixed 
star, far beyond the Sun, is the New Jerusalem, where 
in fact, God has His abode ; the greatness of God is 
quite inconceivable and incomprehensible, for every 
star has its inhabitants and is a world. If mankind 
would but in some degree conceive the greatness of 
God, or endeavor to comprehend it, they would melt 
with humility from a sense of veneration for the 
grandeur of God ; the Earth is to be deemed as naught 
in comparison with the whole creation of God, yet 
notwithstanding all this is the love of God towards us 
of the human race so great." 

She now became silent, and at the instance of a very 
well disposed person, the question was put to her, 



104 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

whether every person has his guardian angel. After 
a little while she said : " My guide says, God suffers 
His Sun to rise over the good and bad, so also has His 
all-seeing eye every one under His own supervision; 
but this you must not so understand, says my guide, 
that this being the case, no misfortune can happen. 
Unfor.tunate accidents, or what are considered as such 
by mankind, do occur, being ordered by God ; they lead 
to an excellent result, if even they should prove actual 
judgments, whether their extent be great or small. In 
order to answer the question which has been put, I 
must say that in the first place children without ex- 
ception have their guardian angels and sentinels, 
adults and old people have them likewise; those, on 
the contrary, who deny a God, and consequently do 
not also acknowledge an immortality of the soul, cease 
to have a special guardian angel, because they are no 
longer deemed worthy of one." 

After a short pause she said : " A person in the 
hall looks upon me with an air of peculiar affability. 
I cannot speak to her, and also do not know her very 
well ; I will ask my guide who she is. My guide tells 
me, she is Barbara Bauer, of Weilheim, who died in 
the seventeenth year of her age, of a long-protractel 
consumption, and was purified in the crucible of 
misery/' 

FOURTH JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

On the 3rd of December the fourth journey into 
Jupiter came to pass, which she again accomplished 
in eight minutes, and then began to speak as follows : 
" My path at first leads through a forest, the trees 
whereof stand quite in order ; at the top they spread 
asunder, and then close together like an umbrella." 
She was asked whether there were any animals there, 
to which she replied : " No ; in Ceres and Uranus, 
says my guide, I shall find animals. My guide tells me 
that men also commit great sin against animals, es- 
pecially such as are created for their benefit, and 
thereby do incur a great responsibility. ,, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 105 

" The forest I passed soon ; I am now on my way 
on a plain towards the mountain, which is not far off. 
Now I have to ascend it ; it has a height of 260 steps, 
on both sides of which the railings are erected because 
the mountain is steep, and the path again very narrow, 
but the steps and railings are again most beautiful. 
The mountain is surrounded by the most delightful 
gardens/' Then she was asked the name of the moun- 
tain "It is called Athanuel," she said; " its figure 
is oval^ and all around it stand trees well arranged 
in avenues, again meeting above, and through each 
avenue leads a narrow path; all the walks are covered, 
with a brilliant greensward, glistening like precious 
stones, yet they are not such, it being easily seen that 
they are but paths." 

Then she was asked whether she did see no blessed 
spirits wandering about the mountain; to which she 
answered : " Not now ; but my guide tells me that 
they often ascend it, and frequently walk around it, 
coming as they do, from various parts of Jupiter. I 
have reached its apex; if I could but always remain 
here; its summit level contains about half an acre. I 
see many cities and forests, but no mountain. " She 
was then asked whether on this star there were no 
oceans ; to which she replied : " No ; there are upon 
it some small lakes, but the waters thereof stand still ; 
during one of my journeys thither I shall pass by one. 
Now I have to leave the mountain, by order of my 
guide , thence I am led into a garden, situated below 
at the foot oi the mountain." 

She then continued to speak of her own accord, as 
follows : " In the regions of the blessed there is never 
any winter or storm, the climate in one is like that in 
another, all equally beautiful and agreeable. The dif- 
ference, to be sure, between the habitation of the 
blessed and that blackish Earth, upon which we dwell, 
is so immeasurably great, that no comparison, what- 
ever, can be drawn between them." She then was 
asked, whether from Jupiter she could also look into 
the Sun, to which she replied : " This is impossible 



106 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

for me from this place, because for the present his 
splendor would be insufferable to me, but you know 
I shall also go thither; the further I pursue my jour- 
neys, the more delightful they become." 

Then she was asked, whether there are also any 
kings or potentates in the Stars, ruling and governing, 
as it were, the whole. After a short pause she said : 
" Is this not a pitiful question ? There is but One who 
rules and governs the whole, and He is God, for it is 
written in the souls of all the blessed, from the lowest 
to the highest, and they hear it incessantly from their 
teachers, in what consists the will of God. I will 
give you a worldly example. If a prince or king had 
in his domains none but equally well disposed sub- 
jects, and all had conceived the same affection for him, 
and none offended the other, how pleasant, don't you 
think, would it be to live in such a country ? This is 
but comparatively speaking quite a small type of the 
state enjoyed by the blessed, for amongst them reigns 
but one mind and one spirit. Charges and offenses 
can never take place there, else it would be no state of 
felicity. The teachers, too, deem themselves no better 
than the learners ; respect, to be sure, exists for them, 
but not such as is servile, but a regard which is filial, 
which is a real delight to them, and, as it were, impels 
them to higher felicities. As it respects that which is 
the essence and support of all in this World, God 
governs it as well as the universe; let those, who 
ascribe everything to chance in nature, believe it or 
not, God is for all that, not by a hair's breadth the 
smaller. For God is in His attributes, so says my 
guide, to all Eternity, incomprehensible and unsearch- 
able, to the created angels as well as to the blessed 
spirits. How should this be possible to the miserable, 
short-sighted bags of maggots of this World, who are 
but to be pitied, and not pitied only, but on account of 
their boldness, to be lamented? The judgments which 
these human beings load upon themselves, exceed com- 
prehension ; how blind and naked will they one day 
stand exposed !" 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. IO7 

In conclusion she was asked, in what manner her 
guide had this time taken leave ; to which she replied : 
" He laid his hands on me, pronounced the benediction 
over me, and dismissed me with the verse in the 
Psalms : ' Mark the perfect man and behold the up- 
right ; for the end of that man is peace/ '' 

FIFTH JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

On the 5th of December her fifth journey into Jupi- 
ter she accomplished in eight minutes. Having ar- 
rived there, she said : " This country is quite level and 
beautiful, and on my return I shall be conducted to a 
small lake. Around the city, which I visit to-day, 
there are beautiful gardens, in which trees and the 
most beautiful flowers are growing; the walks are 
again narrow, but they shine so beautifully, as if they 
had been strewed over with filings of silver. The 
name of this city is Juda; the gate through which I 
enter is very spacious, immensely high, and has four 
towers which shine like gold ; the street in the city in 
comparison with the gate is very narrow ; the buildings 
are all alike handsome and of considerable height; 
everything is perceptibly handsomer than what it was 
in the city I last visited ; the gate, through which I pass 
in going out, is perfectly like that through which I 
entered, when I was introduced. I am this day again 
conducted into a meeting or lecture hall; the building 
in which it is located is very large, the hall is in the 
upper story; in the interior of the building I have to 
ascend a stair-case of not more than twenty steps, 
the stair-case, as well as the railing, are again much 
handsomer than the former, as well as the hall, which 
is very long, What appear to be eight chandeliers are 
therein suspended, but they are none, and form, as my 
guide tells me an ornament to the hall. The number 
of those therein now present is not great, and I also 
see here four teachers ; they are actually singing and 
perform music, both not very loud, but of delightful 
euphony ; the hymns which they chant, as well as the 
melody I can, however, not state. The brightness of 



108 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

the blessed here is already extremely great; if there 
was an acquaintance here from our World, I should 
not recognize him if my guide should not inform me. 
The crown worn by my guide is somewhat larger than 
that of the blessed who are here present, but again a 
little smaller than those of the teachers. " 

Here she was asked, where the region occupied by 
the children was ; to which she replied : " This is in 
the Sun ; there I shall also meet the greatest multitude, 
for the region occupied by the children constitutes a 
large part of the kingdom of God, nay an incom- 
parably larger one than that in the Stars. Now I have 
to quit the room, and am conducted to a sheet of 
water, as I have already intimated. It looks like a sea, 
stands quite still, sparkles with light and clearness, and 
I cannot compare it with any water on Earth. A 
bridge leads over the sea, over which I am conducted ; 
on each side I count twenty pillars, each of them about 
four feet thick ; no alabaster is so clear and shining as 
these are; they represent the most beautiful gates, 
but are none; the pavement constructed over them is 
more than beautiful. The passage over the bridge is 
so wide, that five persons can walk alongside of each 
other; it is very long, but in the center somewhat ele- 
vated. The lake forms a beautiful circle, and is sur- 
rounded with a wkll which shines like a precious 
stone; on the outside of the wall trees are standing 
all around like poplars all of equal height, and in the 
same manner over the bridge, only not quite so close 
to each other as around the lake; the trunks of the 
trees and their branches and foliage are more than 
beautiful, and exude the most delightful scent; the 
lake is called Bethsebada; it appears to me not to be 
very deep, for I can see, by reason of the clearness of 
the water, quite to the bottom. " 

She was asked whether the bodies of the blessed are 
transparent ; to which she made answer : " No ; but 
this is a fact, that their faces and garments shine more 
or less according to the degree of their felicity." 
After this she was asked, in what language her guide 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. IOQ 

was in the habit of speaking with her; to which she 
replied: " In the German language." Then the ques- 
tion was put, whether the unhappy could also perform 
journeys to the blessed, and vice versa, the blessed to 
the- unhappy; to which she replied: kk No;" adding 
after a pause, " but well may the damned/' so says 
my guide, " cast glances at the state of bliss, which, 
however, is of but short duration, thereby increasing 
their misery and wretchedness, but not diminishing the 
same, which is so to be understood that the recollec- 
tion, that they might be in the same situation with the 
blessed, increases their torment/' Then she was asked 
whether the region of the unhappy and the damned is 
beneath or above the Earth, to which she answered: 
" Those that were shown to me, were above the Earth, 
but in no Stars ; God has everywhere dominions and 
dwelling places which mankind can have no idea of 
whatever. Now I am yet led through a delightful 
copse of wood ; as soon as I shall have passed through 
it, my return will begin, which I shall again complete 
in five minutes. " 

During her return she was asked whether the Planet 
Jupiter, which she was then visiting, was also called 
by that name in the other World, to which she re- 
plied : " No ; its name is Nathan," and thus continued 
to speak. "I have now three more journeys to per- 
form thither, then twelve into Ceres, namely every day 
one, then, after some short relaxations, shall I perform 
two and three journeys in one day, otherwise would 
the time during which I shall remain in this sta.e, not 
prove sufficient." 

SIXTH JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

In the afternoon of the 6th of December, she per- 
formed her sixth journey into Jupiter. " I just now 
approach a city, which is again handsomer in every 
point of view than the former, and is called Laban. 
My guide shines more brilliant to-day than he c 1 H 
yesterday, his voice resounds with clearness. In three 
minutes from this I shall Have passed through the city, 



110 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

and I am again led into a building without the city, 
and in it, into a lecturing hall ; there I have again to 
ascend a flight of twenty steps before I can enter the 
hall. Here again I meet with none but human spirits, 
who again have their instructors, but I have to regret 
that their number constantly diminishes. " 

After a three times repeated ejaculation of the inter- 
jection, Ah ! she exclaimed with solemnity : " Why do 
mankind not incessantly strive to be saved ? My 
guide tells me : ' the felicities in the Planet Nathan 
(Jupiter) are of a pretty high degree. How much will 
you be surprised when you shall visit the Sun and the 
New Jerusalem ?' '" Then she was asked, whether her 
guide could, of his own accord, undertake to lead her 
to the places she had mentioned, or whether he had 
first to obtain permission to do so. " My guide can 
do nothing whatever of his own accord; he had to< 
bring permission from God Himself through His ser- 
vants for every journey he has performed with me." 
From a peculiar motive, the question was put, w r here 
the first martyr Stephen was ; to which she replied : 
" He is in the New Jerusalem, awaiting his fellow 
servants, although he also attends the throne of God." 

SEVENTH JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

On the 7th of December, at half-past twelve, she 
performed her seventh journey to Jupiter. "I now 
come to a gate, and thence again into a city named 
Bethel ; this again excels all the others in splendor and 
beauty." Then she was asked by whom the cities that 
had been shown to her had been built and laid out, to 
which she replied with great gravity : " Is this not an 
absurd and miserable question? God, Himself, is the 
architect of the whole of them ; for whatever He saith, 
that comes to pass, and what He commands, is called 
into existence. Neither the understanding nor the 
powers of man, nor of angels would suffice to con- 
struct such an edifice; no terrestrial handiwork, how- 
ever scientifically executed, can ever be compared with 
one that is of heavenly structure," 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. Ill 

I am now led again into a meeting or lecturing hall 
without the city. The windows shine so brilliantly 
that I cannot look upon them ; I have within to ascend 
a stair-case of thirty steps, before I can enter the hall. 
The hall is again not full, and could contain many 
. more. The gradations of felicity constantly rise in 
perfection ; of those that are here, I again know none, 
although they were living persons; their forms quite 
resemble those of the human race, but the unearthli- 
ness of their features renders every one of them in- 
capable of recognition. If I were but permitted to 
tarry here a long while, but my guide is always in too 
great a haste, telling me that he has also to attend to 
his calling in the Sun. Just now instruction is given 
by the teachers, but the words pronounced by them it 
is impossible for me to repeat. This I observe well, 
that the learners have attained to great proficiency; 
everything here in Eternity, whether great or small, 
is quite different from what it is in our World, and 
I know not how I could make any comparison that 
would be intelligible. Now the lessons are ended, and 
music and singing commence ; both are again more 
agreeable and delightful than the former were; the 
hymn has the melody ' Shining is the Christian's innate 
life/ " 

She was then asked whether she did not perceive 
any birds and other animals ; to which she replied : 
" No ; in Ceres I shall meet with animals, but none of 
those that existed in our World, but such as were 
created there Now I have passed through the grove, 
and my return begins. " 

EIGHTH JOURNEY INTO JUPITER. 

On the 8th of December she performed her eighth 
and last journey into Jupiter. " Now I again arrive 
at a gate the pillars are of a blue shining color, the 
city is called Israel ; the gate of the city again excels 
the former in beauty. Now I approach the meeting 
hall of the blessed. One of the blessed comes to meet 
me, and seizes my left hand. Now I walk as fast as 



112 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

if I had wings. I have but ten more steps to ascend; 
in a few minutes I shall have reached the top. With 
the angel, who accompanies me. I cannot speak, but 
he is very friendly and affable to me. Now I enter 
the hall, and the guide that accompanies me quits me , 
he is a teacher and places himself at the head; now I 
will, however, ask my guide who he is. It is the de- 
ceased Henry Jung, called Stilling, or the gray man, 
whom I have already mentioned in my fourth journey 
into Mercury. The teachers I perceive enjoy a trifling 
superiority over the learners, and are much nearer to 
God. In the center of the hall stands a golden 
column ; several chandeliers seem also to be suspended, 
but in reality are not such, serving only as embellish- 
ments to the room, but do not illuminate the same, for 
the hall itself is refulgent with light and clearness. 
The number of those present is again small in com- 
parison with the size of the hall, and yet, says my 
guide, there are blessed spirits here from all nations 
and religious denominations. There are people so 
foolish, as to say, where will God find room enough 
for all the people that have lived through all ages ; 
these are very silly questions, for there is room enough 
and to spare, however long the World may exist ; 
God never discontinues His operations, or ceases to 
form new creations. The lectures I have not been able 
to comprehend. For the present the lectures are at an 
end, and music and singing re-commence." 

" My stay here appears to pass too quickly, and as 
if it had lasted but for a few moments At the con- 
clusion of my last journey thither, I shall also be per- 
mitted to look down upon the Earth. Now I am taken 
through an admirably beautiful garden, again accom- 
panied by my two guides ; the flowers and trees are 
here inexpressibly beautiful, and the sweet scent they 
exude, is more than refreshing." 

Being on the point of quitting the garden, she was 
yet asked its name, to which she replied : " It is called 
Sodamna. Now I am permitted to look down upon 
the Earth ; it appears to me as if I looked through a 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. II3 

window ; the size of it appears to me not larger than 
that of a small ball, such as children usually play with, 
and looks blackish ; I should not even mind it, if my 
guide did not particularly draw my attention to it, 
nor does it shine with any light; but the Moon does. 
Jupiter appears to stand, as it were, in the center be- 
tween our Earth and the Sun. My guide tells me, that 
from the Sun the Earth will not appear to me larger 
than the head of a large pin." 

FIRST JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 9th of December she performed her first 
journey to Ceres and required for it the time of ten 
minutes, to a second. As soon as she had reached 
Ceres, she said: " My journey thither is always very 
quick, and my return still more so, but as soon as I 
have reached such. a body, and wander upon it, then 
my progress is much slower. Now I want yet two 
minutes to arrive at a gate and in a city. . In this re- 
gion I see no mountains, the whole country around is 
perfectly level, but well do I discern some towns 
glistening at a distance, and also some forests, which 
are not of considerable extent. The town which I 
now enter is called Gilliath, everything around me is 
again much more splendid and beautiful. On the 
gate, and at the buildings of the city, little towers 
are erected, which above are oval, and shine with the 
greatest splendor." 

" The pavement of the city is of all possible colors, 
but the stones are so handsomely fitted into each other, 
that it appears to me as if the whole of them consisted 
of but one piece ; but this is an illusion, because every 
one of these stones reflects the rays of its color. That 
which the houses are covered with, and would be 
called by us roofs, seem above to be very flat yet not 
quite so, being of a concave form, and shining most 
splendidly. If any one of you could behold with the 
quickness of a flash of lightning but one of the objects 
that were shown to me, such a person would sink to 
the earth as if thunderstruck. I am altogether in- 



114 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

capable of expressing, how great the Lord God is; 
for it is impossible to form the least idea of the great- 
ness of God. I now enter the meeting hall ; not more 
than four teachers are present; they are actually sing- 
ing a hymn, of which, however, I can neither state the 
melody nor the text, which is also accompanied by the 
sound of harps ; having never seen any other musical 
instrument. The gracious looks, the harmony and re- 
ciprocal love which are visible here, I am utterly in- 
capable to express ; I walk about amongst them, and 
yet is every one affectionate and affable towards me." 
She was then asked whether she knew none of the 
teachers ; she said : " Hartman is one of the teachers 
here present. I now quit the meeting hall, and shall 
be led through a forest, in which I shall meet with 
birds created by God, but which did not come from 
our World. I require two minutes for my passage 
through the woods. Now I see the birds; how they 
sing and whistle so delightful ! their forms are small, 
and their plumage is yellow and white; they are not 
at all frightened, for they fly around me and my 
guide; I now and then want to catch one of them, 
but they always elude me ; I should wish so much 
that I could be able to bring but one back with me to 
the Earth, and should certainly cherish it well, but it 
is impossible. The forest is incomparably beautiful, 
there being not a tree in it, the trunk of which is 
crooked, and all stand in order, and are of an immense 
height ; there are many walks in the woods, but they 
are all very narrow. On the trees I see no fruit, many 
resemble poplars, yet do not belong to that species of 
trees, for they are much more beautiful. Flowers, too, 
are here of the most superb kinds, and every color ; I 
am sorry that I cannot name them ; although my guide 
tells me their names, I am unable to repeat them. 
Now I am permitted to look down upon the Earth; 
if it had not again been pointed out to me, I should 
once more have overlooked it. It again does not ap- 
pear larger to me than a whipping top, such as child- 
ren play with, and it looks blackish. " 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. II5 

During her return she was asked, whether dancing 
be a sin ; to which she replied : " ' By dancing/ says 
my guide, ' no one has yet been saved, but an unac- 
countable number have thereby been lost; no man 
dances with a man, nor any woman with a woman/ 
Think only of the sinful temptations which are thereby 
excited, how many have by that means lost their in- 
nocence and health ; remember what the apostle Paul 
in general terms tells you : ' Be not like those of the 
world/ Dancing is, and always will be, more or less 
a sin." 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 10th of December she performed her second 
journey into Ceres. She said : " Near my guide an 
unhappy spirit shows himself, who fain would ac- 
company us, and whose intention it is impossible for 
me to determine ; he wants to take me by the left hand, 
but I do not give it to him. This uninvited guest had 
to retreat; now I require yet five minutes ere I shall 
arrive in Ceres. Now I have reached that planet; I 
see a number of cities at a distance ; I shall to-day be 
led into one. Ah ! the gate of this city is again much 
handsomer than all the former. Nothing remains to 
me but the most profound adoration and astonish- 
ment; I hardly know how to compose myself; my 
guide tells me that these felicities are already very 
considerable, but that they are much more splendid 
and delightful in the Sun, and in the New Jerusalem. 
The city into which I am conducted is called Gath ; 
the pavements in the street and along the building are 
all alike transparent and beautiful, of various colors, 
and shining with the most brilliant hue." 

" As soon as I shall have passed through this superb 
city, and afterwards through the lecturing hall, I shall 
be led to a stream, of the water whereof I shall be per- 
mitted to drink. Now I approach the lecturing hall, 
which again is situated without the city; in the in- 
terior thereof I shall have to ascend thirty steps ere 
I enter it ; each step is of another color, reflecting the 



Il6 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

rays of that color. O! how infinitely great is God! 
Ascending the stairs I am met by a glorified spirit of 
the dead, of female sex, who leads me by my left 
hand ; she died in her fourteenth year, has a beautiful 
crown on her head, and her dress is of so beautiful a 
whiteness, that it shines ; I should not have known her, 
had my guide not told me who she was in our World, 
and to what family she belonged. With pleasure 
would I converse with her, but she gives me no an- 
swer, although she can speak with my guide. It is cer- 
tainly a matter of great moment that the blessed know 
each other, from whatever family they may be de- 
scended ; but the same is also the case in regard to the 
unhappy. Now I am introduced into a hall ; my 
female companion leaves me and seats herself in her 
place; the blessed that I here meet with, I can hardly 
look upon, on account of their brightness, as they are 
almost transparently brilliant, and that which rejoices 
me particularly, is this : that I see here again six teach- 
ers, and that the number of the blessed is perceptibly 
larger than it was in the other meeting halls. " 

" Of the mutual love and harmony that exist here, 
I can again not convey the least idea to any one; the 
teachers have books lying before them, the characters 
whereof resemble the purest gold, but near the learners 
I perceive no books. Now I must quit the hall, and in 
doing so I yet cast side looks, but this will not suffice 
me. O ! how happy are the blessed ! here nothing oc- 
curs which in the least can mar or interrupt their 
felicity ; I should, if permitted to remain here, neither 
desire nor ask a higher and greater felicity through all 
Eternity. The country I travel through is quite level, 
and excels in beauty.'' 

" My heart feels quite oppressed and full of anxiety, 
for man is composed of spirit, soul, and body, and as 
long as the latter is not separated from the former, 
they stand in communion with each other, and the one 
is influenced by the other, for only my spirit wanders 
here. I see several of the blessed walk about in the 
Elysian fields, I see the stream from which I shall 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. II7 

be given to drink, and the bridge over it, lying before 
me, but yet somewhat at a distance ; over the bridge 
I shall have to pass. Now a created angel approaches 
me, by whom the water w T ill be presented." 

Hereupon she opened her right hand, and extended 
her left, saying: " My guide, on the approach of the 
angel, has withdrawn to a short distance in the rear, 
and seized my left hand, but my right has been taken 
by the created angel ; his name is Zacharias. Now he 
hands me the water in a transparently golden cup. 
Water of this kind I never drank before ; its taste is 
sweeter than that of honey. The angel also pours 
some drops of this water on my head, but before doing 
so, he said a benediction over it, of which I know but 
the concluding words, which run thus : ' May the 
faithful Saviour always guide thee in the even path/ 
Now this angel departs from me ; his voice was very 
strong, his person, too, is large and powerful, but his 
face full of love and pleasantness. An angel that has 
been created may be touched and taken hold of, but 
a glorified spirit cannot, for adopted bodies are too 
refined. Now my return begins." 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the nth of December she performed her third 
journey into Ceres. She said: " During my journey 
upwards I pass close by the regions of the damned." 

Then she burst into a transport of joy and said : 
" Another companion is given to me ; water shall again 
be presented to me to-day. Now I have finished my 
journey, and I shall immediately arrive at a city gate; 
the city itself is called Nossphat. The angel who ac- 
companies me, is in person larger than my guide; his 
raiment more shiningly splendid, and his crown, too, 
larger and more brilliant. He has come down from 
the New Jerusalem; such an angel is highly regarded 
by those that inhabit the Stars ; his voice is very 
strong, resembling thunder ; his name is Gabriel. The 
blessed who meet him, and are in the lecturing hall, 
salute him with these words : ' Hail to thee, angel 



Il8 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

Gabriel !' Every one out of respect for him, rises, the 
teachers one after another embraced him, as friends 
embrace each other that have not seen each other for 
a while. Such a reception is not coupled with any 
malice, envy or grudge; this is all pure and clear as 
the Sun; this angel does not deem himself in the least 
superior to those whom he saluted and embraced; 
amongst the blessed reigns but the purest love." 

" In regard to the beauty of the gate, city, and lectur- 
ing hall, I can but say this much, that even the blessed 
that are here, are unable to describe the glory and 
beauty that prevail here, according to their magnitude ; 
what can you then expect from me, a poor worm of 
the Earth ! Two angels again approach me, who also 
were poor despised beings upon Earth and now enjoy 
such felicity. God is incomprehensible and unsearch- 
able. Let no one believe that the least object escapes 
the attention of God ; the least worm, and those insects 
that are hardly visible to us, are not unknown to Him, 
much less men, for whom Jesus Christ, in order to 
save, yielded up His life unto death. O! what a love 
is this ! who can conceive and comprehend it ?" 

" The angel Gabriel and my guide lead me on both 
sides. The water which is now handed to me, tends 
to render me more fit for that which is higher, and is 
now shown to me." Every one present plainly ob- 
served her swallowing as greedily as if she had been 
tormented with the greatest thirst f thereupon she con- 
tinued to speak : " The angel Gabriel has laid his 
hand on my head and blessed me, and then bid me 
farewell." 

FOURTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 1 2th of December she performed her fourth 
journey to Ceres. During her journey thither, she 
received a secret commission ; but soon after said : 
" My guide has not granted the request I preferred to 
him. An uninvited individual again wanted to ac- 
company us ; but he was suddenly dismissed by my 
guide. Molest me as little as possible to-day with 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. II9 

questions ; I have to converse with my guide, for my 
journey becomes very important. I shall enter to-day 
a city and a lecturing hall, ascend a high mountain, 
and on my return arrive at a sheet of water. Now I 
have reached Ceres; a blessed spirit again joins us as 
a fellow companion, who has come to meet me from 
the purest joy. My guide tells me that he has ascer- 
tained from those blessed spirits already alluded to, 
that I was to make a journey thither this day. Henry 
Herrman is here, who in his youth died with the con- 
sumption; my guide is distinguished from Herrman 
by the brilliancy, and large size of his crown, for ac- 
cording to the degrees the blessed have taken, the 
brightness of their appearance is regulated. Herrman 
now enjoys the highest felicity, although in our World 
he appeared to be overlooked, being minded by no 
person, on account of his low birth and poverty, yet 
he is now so blessed an angel of God ! He is full of 
love and affability, and although he speaks with my 
guide, he does not speak to me." 

She was then asked, whether he walked at her right 
or left hand ; to which she replied : " In the regions 
of felicity, honors are not regarded; yet is this so to 
be understood, that if servants of God shew them- 
selves, and other blessed spirits of lower degree are 
visited by inhabitants from the New Jerusalem, a 
great respect is shown to them, but not so as in the 
least to impair those honors that alone are due to 
God. Now I arrive at the gate of the city ; that which 
I enter to-day is called Dann; thence I look into the 
Sun. It appears to me very large; from thence no 
clouds or mists are visible any more, the sky, too, 
has no longer a blue appearance, but is as clear as 
crystals, and the Sun seems infinitely larger and more 
brilliant than what he appears to us on Earth, and yet 
we are not well able thence to look at him. Herrman 
rejoices greatly, he is also permitted to accompany me; 
we have not quite passed through the city. Now I 
am led into the lecturing hall, which again is more 
splendid than the former ones were." 



120 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

Then she was asked whether besides Herrman she 
knew no other person ; to which she answered : " No ; 
he, too, would have remained unknown to me, if my 
guide had not mentioned his name and circumstances ; 
although the blessed have human forms, they are 
quite changed by the brightness that envelopes them, 
and no longer recognizable, as I have stated already. 
Between that which is permanent, and that which is 
transient, the difference is immensely great._ In this 
hall there are again six teachers; they have books be- 
fore them, from which they give lessons ; the books 
are in quarto form, and their very covers are shining. ' 

" O ! if I but could remain here ! Of the lessons, to 
which I listened, I cannot communicate a word; it 
appears to me as if every one was spoken in the Ger- 
man language, and all those that are here present un- 
derstand, and comprehend every word, whatever por- 
tion of the Earth they may have come from. My 
guide tells me that I can say nothing of this, it being 
most wisely withheld from me, because my fellow in- 
habitants of the Earth would neither be able to con- 
ceive nor comprehend such instructions. Now I have 
to quit the hall, and in about two minutes I shall be 
at the foot of the mountain, which I shall be permitted 
to visit. I shall have to ascend three hundred and 
fifty steps ere I shall reach the summit, and to do so, 
I require five minutes, the steps being of easy ascent 
and not very high. The mountain bears the name of 
Nego ; its form is admirable ; around it stand the most 
beautiful flowers and trees, some of which bear fruits, 
part of which are of a red, and others of a white color. 
The trees and flowers exhale a delightful fragrance ; 
around the mountain run many roads, but they are 
narrow. Now I am on the summit level of the moun- 
tain, which is very extensive, and upon it stands a 
large edifice, of such beauty and size as I never be- 
held any before ; it has several gates and entrances, and 
is inhabited by blessed spirits, the number of which, 
however, is very small." 

" I have reached the lower grounds, and am led to 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 121 

a river. Now Herrman leaves me again with the 
same love and affability with which he received me ; 
he sends me word by my guide not to neglect, as long 
as I may have to wander in this World, my attention 
or prayers, but in regard thereto constantly to increase 
in zeal ; to practice love towards all men as much 
as possible ; to shun pride and haughtiness like the 
plague ; to cherish more than anything else the Holy 
Bible, likewise never forsake the footsteps of the great 
Redeemer of the world, and to give free access to the 
inspirations of the Holy Spirit; then shall I be quali- 
fied for such a state of felicity as he enjoys, which 
for innumerable worlds and worldly treasures, he 
would never exchange: Ah! with what pleasant, in- 
nocent, and friendly looks he takes leave from my 
guide and me. Now I have arrived at the river; it 
is called Sideron ; its w r ater is as clear as crystal, and 
its current hardly perceptible ; no water on Earth can 
be compared thereto. The bridge that extends over 
this river is more than beautiful; the stones of which 
it is constructed glisten like diamonds. " 

FIFTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 13th of December she performed her fifth 
journey to Ceres. Having arrived at the spot of her 
destination, she said : " Now I am up. Just now a 
ray falls from the Sun upon Ceres, but here he bears 
another name ; my path leads this time through a very 
large garden. In the garden a great many blessed 
spirits are actually wandering about, who are partly 
those who died, and partly created angels, all shining 
with a light not inferior to that of the Sun. In all 
the Stars, which are the abodes of felicity, created 
angels are to be met with, only more in some, and in 
others less. The created angels appear to me some- 
what more perfect, in regard to their brightness, and 
firmer in regard to their bodies, but they . move as 
briskly as the spirits of the glorified dead. Now I 
hear the sounds of music, again excelling that formerly 
heard by me. I shall certainly strive with all my might 



122 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

likewise one day to attain to such a state of felicity; 
the higher I am led, the more eager shall I become for 
it. I have beheld from the Stars, formerly visited by 
me, the Sun also, but did not know what a body con- 
stantly increasing in size and brightness it was; for 
the nearer I approach him, the clearer and more bril- 
liant he appears to me." 

" My guide tells me repeatedly, that in the state of 
blessedness there exists absolutely no respect of per- 
son; descent, standing and office having here no 
weight, whatever, but every one being judged accord- 
ing to the degree of fidelity, and the deeds done by 
him in the body. Here an individual, who by the 
world, that is, by men, had been entirely overlooked, 
may sit down by the side of a potentate or prince, whose 
soul departed from his body in faith; for the justice, 
equity and impartiality of God cau neither be con- 
ceived nor comprehended. Every person, however 
upright he may be deemed to be, is, and remains but 
human in his resolution, doing either too much or too 
little, which, however, will on his arrival in Eternity, 
not be charged to his account, provided he but always 
remained faithful, incapable as he was, to arrive at 
more than but a trifling knowledge. Now I have to 
quit the garden ; it is called, according to our language, 
the garden of peace and harmony." 

She was then asked what is meant by the Bible ex- 
pression of being in Abraham's lap ; to which she an- 
swered: " That state of felicity enjoyed by Abraham. 
My explanation just now given can thus be justified. 
Abraham in his time was a prince, but Lazarus one of 
the poorest on Earth; yet did he come to the same 
state of bliss enjoyed by Abraham. By this I believe 
to have sufficiently proven that there is an end to re- 
spect of person in Eternity. The road on which I ap- 
proach the city is very beautiful, and of various 
colors ; the city which I enter is called Ragel." 

" Let no one believe that my disclosures are fancies, 
or the offspring of an overwrought imagination. As 
little as I am capable to give any description of the 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 123 

state of blessedness, according to its magnitude, as 
little am I enabled to describe the inexpressible tor- 
ments of the damned in the third degree of the un- 
happy, I can do no more than to urge it upon every 
one to become sincerely and truly penitent and con- 
verted ! Ah ! if but every person would turn to Jesus 
Christ, the Saviour of the world, in true faith!" 

She was then asked whether in this hall she knew 
no person ; to which she replied : " Only when my 
guiae points one out to me, for otherwise I am unable 
to recognize any person, for the brightness that sur- 
rounds the blessed, renders it impossible to recognize 
them ; but there are glorified spirits here of all nations 
and religious denominations. Now there is one pointed 
out to me by my guide, known from his writings, 
namely, Gellert." Being asked whether the blessed 
have also books lying before them, she replied : " Yes, 
certainly ; some look as if they were bound, and others 
like scrolls." 

SIXTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 14th of December she performed her sixth 
journey into Ceres. " Now I have arrived in Ceres; 
I see before me a mountain, which is admirably beau- 
tiful." Then she uttered a deep sigh, exclaiming: 
" O, God ! how inconceivably great art Thou ! To-day 
I shall be permitted to ascend this mountain." She 
then warned every one again against sin in the most 
impressive manner, and concluded with the words: 

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the king- 
dom of God/ Now I am at the foot of the mountain. 
In the blessed Eternities, seeing a mountain close be- 
fore us, causes no anxiety, for the bright light that 
issues therefrom, is a great help; this mountain is 
called Joel, and is again handsomer than those that 
were heretofore shown to me. Whilst I ascend the 
mountain, I am met by a created angel ; they change 
not their forms ; never become older, but always retain 
their youthful appearance; the name of this angel is 
Jacob. The crowns worn by the blessed cannot be 



124 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

heavy, although composed of the purest gold and 
adorned with jewels." 

'" I now approach the summit, which is surrounded 
by the most shining wall; at its entrance there is a 
gate, that opens, and having passed through, shuts 
again of itself ; this gate is admirably fair. The build- 
ing at which I arrive, and into which I am conducted, 
is of immense length, breadth, and size, being six 
stories high, each story of proportional height; here 
it is visible how great an architect God is ! Even to 
go round this building, would, as men usually walk, 
require a considerable length of time. The mountain, 
wall and building abound in magnificence; I am at a 
loss to what point first to direct my looks ; to a mortal 
eye it would be impossible to bear the brilliancy of 
but one of the minerals with which the wall and the 
building are garnished, much less that of the whole. 
My prayer to be permitted to stay was absolutely re- 
fused me. It is at present incomprehensible to me 
how it can be more delightful in the Sun and in the 
New Jerusalem than here. I am now conducted into 
the building, and have to mount twenty steps ere I 
shall enter the lecturing, or meeting hall. The beauty 
of the hall, the music and singing which there I hear, 
excite my astonishment, and I have no words to give 
you a description/' 

" I do not know the cause of the great joy which at 
once arises amongst the blessed present; I must ask. 
My guide tells me that the news has arrived that a 
very great sinner in our World has become converted, 
who no longer relapses ; a dream having awakened 
him, in which the third degree of the damned was 
shown to him, which would not have happened had 
it not been foreseen that he thereby would be actually 
awakened and saved. That God has many, nay in- 
numerable means, to save mankind, but only that it 
is to be lamented and regretted that they are so un- 
mindful of them. Remember here the parable of the 
lost sheep and piece of silver. The four divisions of 
this building are inhabited by the blessed, when the 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 12$ 

lectures are over. The hall is by no means filled; 
although a considerable number of the blessed are 
present, it could contain a great many more; I can- 
not name any of them." 

" My guide tells me, that it is impossible for him to 
make me comprehend how much the Trinity, and again 
every individual that is blessed are concerned, that 
each human being, without exception, be saved, who- 
ever he may have been in our World ; it being impos- 
sible that self-love or ambition can enter here. The 
roads which wind around the mountain are many ; the 
summit level of the mountain is very broad; the en- 
virons of the building appear to form a garden, and 
are very pleasant. I would have much more to tell 
you but have just now to quit the hall, the building 
and the mountain. To-morrow I shall perform two 
journeys into Ceres, and one in this World to one of 
my brothers. " 

SEVENTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 15th of December she performed her seventh 
journey into Ceres. At the very outset she com- 
plained of the presence of six unworthy beings. 
" Every word that my guide tells me is faithfully 
stated by me ; all I have said in respect to the situation 
of the damned, as well as that of the blessed, is true. 
I have now reached Ceres. In two minutes I shall be 
led into a city ; in the country through which I actually 
travel, are cities, mountains, valleys, forests, gardens, 
and water, all exceedingly pleasant and beautiful. A 
landscape on Earth, be it ever so delightful, cannot 
be put in the most remote comparison with this ; the 
difference is as great as the distance of Ceres from 
the Earth. I now approach the city ; the gate is more 
than admirably beautiful, the town has a name, signify- 
ing in our language, ' City of Peace ;' each row of build- 
ings appears to be but one block, yet it is not so ; this 
town again seems to me somewhat handsomer than 
the former." 

She now again extolled the blessedness of felicity, 



126 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

and on the other hand painted the torments of the 
damned as most horrible. Then she said : " I hear 
the sounds of music and singing at a distance. Now I 
have passed though the city; the gate which leads 
out of it is as beautiful as the one through which I was 
introduced. A meeting hall I shall not enter to-day, 
but a garden, where I shall find all the blessed that 
are here. Now I am conducted into the garden; the 
gate which leads into it is again more than beautiful; 
in this garden are the most superb trees and a vast 
variety of flowers. The delightful scent which issues 
from them is truly divine ; and there are many, but 
narrow paths here, crowded with holy angels, walk- 
ing about. The cheerfulness and delight observable in 
the forms of the blessed, the uniformity of their 
shining raiment and crowns, cannot be described; but 
I remark that the pearls in these crowns are not all 
uniformly alike. I have asked my guide, what is the 
reason for this, to which he gave me this answer : 
'each virtue practiced by men, has its appropriate 
pearl; one crown being deficient in this, another in 
that, yet notwithstanding they are all equally blessed, 
their sins having been forgiven them through the death 
of Jesus.' The most splendid crown of a king on 
Earth, and the most magnificent diadem of a princess, 
are dull when compared with the crowns of the blessed, 
everything here being of quite a different character. 
Now my return begins. The outlet from the garden 
is adorned with a gate as fair and beautiful as the 
inlet; the beautiful greensward at the outside of the 
garden, I again cannot praise sufficiently/' 

EIGHTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the same day, the 15th of December she per- 
formed her eighth journey into Ceres. The moment 
her guide appeared she expressed herself as follows: 
" Now no wicked intruders are present. I now come 
nearer to Ceres ; in this journey I shall again ascend 
a mountain, but before I shall arrive at the mountain, 
I have to pass through a small grove, This is more 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. \2J 

than pleasant, abounding with beautiful flowers and 
small birds, whose song is delightful. The mountain 
is called Golgotha; its circumference is about ten 
German miles, and is surrounded by gardens; the 
mountain does not appear to me much smaller from 
above than from below, and I have to ascend 420 
steps to reach its summit. I see angels wandering 
about below at the foot of the mountain, who do not 
appear to me to walk, but to fly. Below, the moun- 
tain is surrounded by a wall, for which reason I now 
enter through a gate, and only here the stairs begin. 
I have ascended the second flight of steps, and am 
joined by an angel; my guide has gone around me, 
seizing my left hand, but the angel my right. He is a 
created angel, called Micha. My progress now is quite 
easy, and I hardly know what to do for joy and de- 
light ! I see already the gate that leads to the summit- 
level of the mountain, closing again of itself. I have 
heretofore seen so much glory, but this excels all the 

rest." 

" The clearness and beauty which here are visible, 
surpass all imagination. In the same manner as I am 
now conducted, and accompanied by two angels, per- 
sons that die happy are taken away by two angels. 
Here there are no angels but such as were here from 
the beginning. I could shed tears of joy, for here 
everything glistens again with splendor and bright- 
ness. Now I see also angels fly. O, what glory ! Let 
me beseech ye to turn with all your hearts and souls 
to the Lord, your God, and become converted ! What- 
ever I may say and speak^ it amounts to nothing in 
comparison with the reality here ; all my talk conveys 
but a faint image thereof. The pavement around the 
building consists of stones of various kinds and colors. 
I am unable to describe even these colors, whose 
beauty is so much increased by the rays of the Sun, as 
they shine thereon." 

" My guide has received permission from the angel 
Micha to conduct me into the interior of the building, 
but into the hall I dare only cast a glance of the eye, 



128 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

as I would not yet be able to bear its splendor. None 
but angels created from Eternity are here; their 
crowns are all perfectly alike, and adorned with 
precious stones. No teachers are present ; these angels 
equal each other in knowledge, and instruct each other, 
and rejoice together; the music and singing which I 
hear, again surpass all imagination. These angels 
wander about in numbers in the abodes of felicity; 
nay, the very wish to be here or there, says my guide, 
transports them to the desired spot. Now I enter the 
gate through which I was introduced; there the angel 
Micha is going to give me a drink of water ; the bene- 
diction was said over me by the angel Micha before 
I drank, and after ; the water serves to strengthen me, 
and promote my progress. Now the angel Micha has 
left me, and my return commences. " 

OCCURRENCES AFTER THIS JOURNEY. 

At the expiration of an hour she relapsed into a 
slumber, in which she again was joined by her guide. 
She then made a journey with him to Chur, in the 
Canton Graubuendten, in Switzerland, where a brother 
of hers resides. She stated the situation of the town 
quite correctly, "described the building and the room 
in which she had found her brother, and even de- 
scribed the occupation he was just then engaged in, 
saying: " He actually makes a pen; true I touch him, 
but cannot make him sensible of it, being with him but 
in spirit; my guide and I stand behind him, but he 
cannot see us; his appearance indicates a good state 
of health. In Chur it actually wants a quarter of 
four on the town clock ; now I return ; in two minutes 
I shall again be with you; on account of the dense 
atmosphere of the Earth I cannot travel so fast as in 
ascending/' The two minutes being past, she said : 
" Now my guide returns with the words, ' Adieu ! to- 
morrow we shall see and speak to each other again.' ,: 

This journey she had already predicted the day be- 
fore, with the addition that it would be of but short 
duration, 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 29 

NINTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

The 16th of December she performed her ninth 
journey to Ceres. She began to speak as follows: 
" To-day I am conducted into a garden, surrounded 
by a shining wall ; in Eternity, walls serve as no pro- 
tection, but merely as an ornament. Thence I shall 
arrive at a city, and on this day two weeks in the 
Sun, where I shall visit the realms of the children. " 

" Just now I arrive at the garden, laid out in a 
pleasant circular form; my guide tells me a person 
would require four and twenty hours to pass around 
it. The blessed call it, according to our language, ' the 
garden of joy.' The garden is crowded with blessed 
spirits, some of which are created angels, and others 
glorified human beings , a created angel actually ap- 
proaches . me, his name is Jacob. The beauty of the 
garden I cannot sufficiently depict to you ; the trees 
stand in such fine ranges, aud the many various sorts 
of flowers are so beautiful, and their perfume so re- 
freshing, that I find it impossible to convey to you an 
idea thereof ; the trees and flowers sparkle with beauty. 
The affectionate and friendly air, with which angels 
meet each other, I am again unable to describe; here 
it may with truth be said, their faces are the in- 
dices of integrity, for here there exists no hyprocrisy. 
True, the created angels have also human forms, 
but how great is the clearness with which they shine ! 
Now I have to leave the garden and arrive in a 
city, where I mostly meet with created angels ; in re- 
gard to beauty and perfection, they excel those who 
before were human, and are here only according to 
the spirit and, the soul. The created angels wear beau- 
tiful pearls in their crowns. Now I approach the city 
gate. How unfathomable and past finding out is God ! 
into the depths of the Deity no angel can penetrate, 
much less a poor worm. The name of this city is 
Phioel, again surpassing all the former in beauty, and 
I see a great many angels wander about. The angel 
Jacob comes to-morrow to my consecration; he can 
speak with me, his voice is very strong. I must say 



I30 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

that the glory which is shown to me, as it were, ren- 
ders me weak because I can hardly bear the same ; 
for this reason, water is also handed to me by the 
angel Jacob to strengthen me." 

" Do not despise your poorest fellowmen, and do 
not deem yourselves above them; the good you do* 
your fellowmen must be done from the purest love 
to God and your fellow-creatures, for God only re- 
gards the heart in all our actions; men we may de- 
ceive and impose upon, but to do so to God is im- 
possible. To exhibit haughtiness and superciliousness 
against our fellowmen, by word and deed, is an abomi- 
nation in the eyes of God. I have here again, at the 
particular instance of my guide, been obliged to allude 
to several capital sins ; if I should enter into a detail, 
I should never -be done. My guide says, * in how many 
ways man commits sin is innumerable.' Let every one 
watch his own heart, then will they soon become aware 
what a chaos of sin is concealed therein. I am to 
implore every one to turn to the Lord in truth, and 
alter their mind according to the Word and will of 
God, and be born again; that salvation is a matter so* 
inexpressibly important, that if I had millions of mil- 
lions of tongues, I should not be able to express what 
felicity is, and if mankind would believe it, they would 
repent in sackcloth and ashes/' 

"It is a great folly, when spouses mourn for their 
spouses, children for their parents, parents for their 
children, provided they die happy. In regard to noth- 
ing do men commit a greater error, than in their judg- 
ments of persons deceased ; many a one is by them 
raised to the sky, who is amongst the unhappy, whilst 
another is considered as damned, but is in the empire 
of the blessed. My guide tells me, that the equity of 
God is, as I have so often stated, inscrutable ; that 
no one receives too much, and another too little. He 
that is damned, cannot be too deeply lamented. Dur- 
ing my journeys into Ceres, I pass every time close by 
the abodes of the unblessed. " After a short silence 
she re-commenced, saying: " I have asked my guide 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I3I 

how it happens, that so many persons dying on Earth 
every day, I meet with none on my journeys up and 
down; to which he has replied: ' these go by different 
roads ; that I should only be disturbed, and that he can 
take no other road with me than the one appointed; 
because the greatest order and punctuality reign in a 
state of bliss/ The angel Jacob now leaves me ; be- 
fore he took leave, he laid his hand upon my head. 
Now, however begins my return, during which molest 
me not with questions, for I want to converse with my 
guide." 

" My guide tells me, that I am to tell freely and 
without hesitation, that he that does not turn to the 
Son of God as the sole and true Mediator and Inter- 
cessor with God, and does not lend a willing ear to 
the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, is lost beyond re- 
demption. My guide still adds, that God could not 
have done more for mankind than He has done." 

Then she exclaimed in a tone of commiseration : 
" Why will men not discern how wretched, poor, blind, 
and naked they are ! Now my guide leaves me." Im- 
mediately after this she was asked what her guide, 
being always in the habit of leaving her some comfort, 
had said this time ; to which she replied : " That I 
shall retire more and more from the world." 

TENTH "JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the same day, the 16th of December, she per- 
formed her tenth journey into Ceres. Arrived, she 
said: "I am this time neither conducted into a gar- 
den, nor into a city; the landscape where I now find 
myself has the appearance of a fine champagne coun- 
try, in which angels, created from Eternity, are wan- 
dering about; they walk by pairs. The contentment 
that exists amongst them I cannot extol sufficiently, 
and how delightfully warm the atmsphere on Ceres 
is, I cannot at all express, unable to compare it with 
any degree of heat on Earth; the air is perfumed with 
the sweetest scent, although I here do neither perceive 
trees nor flowers, but an abundance of roads." 



132 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" Directed by my guide, I have again to give you 
admonitions in regard to the love which we ought to 
bear to our fellowmen, and refrain by all means from 
despising any one, especially on account of his reli- 
gious opinions, because he who does so, commits a 
great sin. In the Stars which I visited, I have met 
with blessed spirits from all nations and religious de- 
nominations. As it respects Christian sects, I must 
acknowledge that there are more Catholics there than 
of any other sect, which on account of their majority 
of members, compared with that of the rest it is easily 
to be comprehended must .be the case ; but the same 
is also the case in respect to the reverse. With 
God there is not the least respect of person, for the 
salvation of every human being solely depends on his 
doing the will of God. Humility is also particularly 
to be recommended, for amongst the blessed it has its 
real homestead, it being impossible that a proud per- 
son should enter the kingdom of Heaven. If I pos- 
sessed but energy and words enough to commend to 
you the love, harmony, humility, integrity, modesty, 
and courteousness which exist here, and can be only 
experienced, but not described !" 

After a little pause she said with the greatest zeal: 
" He that sins is of the Devil." Then she re-com- 
menced speaking of the third degree of the unblessed 
or the damned, and continued as follows : " Although 
I have described the same to you as horrible and dread- 
ful, I have by far not depicted the same to you in its' 
whole extent as it really is. The forms in which the 
damned appear are loathsome and frightful, their tor- 
tures more than terrible — enveloped in darkness so 
dense, that not the least ray of light penetrates through 
it ; the constant gnawing of teeth, cursing and accus- 
ing, which prevail, without a moment's interval of 
peace — for in Eternity there is an end to all sleep ; is 
this not more than lamentable? The worst to bear 
besides, is this, that they see no termination whatever 
to their misery. There are so many persons who say, 
that they believe in no Devil, and that there is no 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 33 

Devil; these I pity with all my heart, that they should 
one day learn to believe and know from their own 
experience/' 

ELEVENTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the 17th of December she performed her eleventh 
journey into Ceres. kk Already I approach the city into 
which I shall be conducted to-day; my guide says its 
name is Elkana ; the gate and the city are equally mag- 
nificent, and by far outshine the former in brilliancy. 
Here I meet with no other inhabitants than created 
angels, but these move about, and wander from place 
to place. Their crowns are all equally beautiful, as 
well as their raiment, altogether sparkling with clear- 
ness. My guide can speak with them, but I cannot; 
this is a favor which is only now and then granted me 
with some individuals, especially such as enter into a 
closer communication with me. With what love and 
affability they look upon me, I am incapable to ex- 
press. Of their language I understand nothing, but 
it sounds most delightful. Here is also a meeting hall, 
but teachers especially appointed I do not perceive; 
my guide tells me again, that their occupation consists 
in praising God and executing His commands; they- 
are also frequently employed to bring the happy de- 
parted." 

" In Eternity there is no longer any counting by 
hours, days, months or years ; there every thing of 
the kind is at an end, for in Heaven it is never night ; 
for it ever remains the same in delightfulness and 
glory. My guide tells me that it is as impossible for a 
blessed, spirit to become satiated with the sight of the 
grandeur, holiness, purity, justice, or in fact of what 
belongs to the Deity, as to scrutinize the same." 

TWELFTH JOURNEY INTO CERES. 

On the same day, the 17th of Dec, having received 
her guide, she mentioned that in ten minutes she would 
be in the highest regions. Several watches were drawn, 
and when the time to a second had expired, she said : 



134 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL, 

" Now I am up. I now approach the mountain; it is 
called Lorier ; its circumference is eight German miles ; 
it is of a beautiful spherical form, similar to that of an 
apple, shining with a strong luster, and is not much 
smaller above than below. I see several created 
angels walk about. Many roads wind about the moun- 
tain; trees are also standing about, yet not a great 
many, but plenty of beautiful flowers; their sweet 
scent I cannot give you the least idea of, it is de- 
lightful, and not to be compared with that of any 
flowers on Earth. Railings are fixed on both sides 
of the stairs, which are almost perpendicular. I do 
not know to which, in point of magnificence, to give 
the preference, whether to the steps or the railings. 
Now I approach the summit-level of the mountain, 
which is surrounded by a most beautiful wall, glitter- 
ing all over. The gate through which I am introduced, 
again opens and closes of itself. Now I have reached 
the level ; here everything sparkles together ; I, myself, 
appear clearer than what I was, which is solely ef- 
fected by the rays reflected from the created angels, 
a great number of whom I here behold. Ah ! the love 
and harmony which exist among them ; these certainly 
surpass everything human. " 

" On the level of the mountain stands a building 
quite resembling a temple; the pavement around the 
same shines with a luster peculiar only to precious 
stones; of the splendor in the interior, I am abso- 
lutely incapable to give you the least description. 
When I first set out on my journeys, I should certainly 
not have been able to endure this." She then began 
to speak of the incomprehensible grandeur of God, and 
concluded with the words : " If but one* of you that 
are present could have cast a single glance, with the 
velocity of lightning, at the glory that has this day been 
shown to me, he would, as if thunder-struck, have 
dropped down in a swoon. Now I have to quit the 
mountain ; on my descent therefrom I am accompanied 
by an angel, whose name is affixed to his garment, 
written with golden letters across his back, as is also 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I35 

the case with the rest; the one who accompanies me 
is named Zacharias. My return begins, In the course 
of an hour I shall be consecrated for the journeys 
which I shall have to perform to Uranus and Saturn; 
my guide and the angel Jacob will then appear as 
witnesses, and the angel Micha performs the act of 
consecration. I shall perform twelve journeys in 
Uranus, every day tw r o, and then twelve journeys to 
Saturn likewise two daily." 

CONSECRATION FOR THE JOURNEYS TO SATURN AND 
URANUS. 

" Now my consecration commences. The angel 
Micha has laid his hand upon my head, this I felt sen- 
sibly, in the same manner as if a man had laid his 
hand upon me, except that I felt a peculiar virtue 
and agreeable sensation issuing from the hand of the 
angel; and he also gave me to drink of the water of 
life. That you could see none of the three angels 
present, I am not surprised, because their brightness 
would have been insupportable to you;. but that you 
have not heard the least sound of the energetic words, 
pronounced with a strong voice by the angel Micha 
during my consecration, is much less comprehensible 
to me." 

Until six o'clock in the evening she remained in 
bed, then rose voluntarily and went into the sitting- 
room, took a seat, and conversed with those that were 
present. As soon as the appointed time approached, 
she unexpectedly fell asleep upon the chair, and when 
the clock struck seven, her guide also joined her, 
whom she received with every demonstration of joy. 
Two minutes afterwards she rose from her seat, went 
out through the door and advanced about fifteen steps, 
then returned to the room with her hands folded, say- 
ing : " Now I have received the angels from the 
' fountain-head/ She then did not sit down again, 
but immediately fell upon her knees with such a grace, 
and such visible lifting-up of her heart to God, as to 
excite the astonishment of all that saw her. Every 



I36 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

one present also knelt down. The most profound si- 
lence prevailed during this act of consecration ; she laid 
the left hand upon her breast, but extended the right 
forward. This act being past, she fell upon the floor 
with her face, and remained prostrate for more than 
five minutes ; having erected herself, it was perceived 
that secretly she prayed to God, raising as she did, her 
hands folded, and quite wrapt in devotion up to 
Heaven. After a short pause she rose. 

Immediately after she again knelt down and ad- 
dressed a loud prayer of thanks to God in behalf of 
all those that had been found worthy of being present 
at so solemn an act. Then she pronounced such an 
energetic and spiritual prayer, that every one ex- 
claimed : " She is filled with the Holy Spirit !" The 
spectators were so deeply affected, that they all shed 
tears, and acknowledged freely that only those com- 
ing from Eternity were able to pronounce prayers 
like these, inasmuch as to word and address, with which 
it was delivered, did far surpass everything human. 
It is, however, to be regretted, that this lofty prayer 
could not be taken down. The main contents thereof 
were as follows : First, she thanked the Lord God, 
or the Trinity, that she, as a poor worm, had been 
found worthy of so much grace and condescension; 
Secondly, she prayed that all her sins might be par- 
doned ; Thirdly, that she might increase and grow in 
piety, be truly born anew and guarded against every 
relapse : Fourthly, that God might not detain her long 
in this World, but soon take her to Himself. It was 
just nine o'clock when she had finished this divinely- 
delightful prayer; she then arose and took the same 
seat which before she had occupied. 

Soon after this she fell twice more on her knees, 
and again delivered several fervent prayers, which 
excited the greatest surprise. In these she prayed 
particularly for the human family in general, that God 
might have commiseration on all, and yet bring many, 
very many to repentance. She extolled a state of 
blessedness with all her might, but regretted being al- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I37 

most totally deficient in words to enable her to de- 
scribe and depict the same according to its magnitude, 
unable as she also was to state the situation of the 
damned adequately. During all these prayers her 
enunciation was so clear and. sonorous, that no human 
being would be able to utter a similar tone, or to pro- 
nounce a word in such a manner. Having finished 
the last prayer, it w r anted but ten minutes of ten ; she 
then seated herself, profoundly asleep, in her former 
place, but when the clock struck ten she awoke." 

JOURNEYS INTO SATURN AND URANUS. 

From the 18th to the 29th of December, both days in- 
clusively consequently in twelve days, she performed 
the journeys to Saturn and Uranus, two each day. Of 
both she stated the following: that they resemble 
worlds, containing valleys, mountains, forests, gardens, 
and a great many cities, as well as solitary buildings, 
water and lakes. That they abounded with blessed 
spirits. " I am," she said, " conducted only into gar- 
dens and to mountains, passing, however, close by 
cities ; but you overwhelm me so much with questions, 
as to render it impossible for me to speak of their 
beauties and splendor." 

On her return from her last journey to Uranus 
(the 20th of December), she said: "My guide tells 
me that I shall this night fall into a profound sleep, 
during which he, together with my second guide, 
George Goelz, who is also in the Sun, and Pastor Renz, 
deceased, late oi this town, who is appointed a teacher 
of children in the Sun, will join me, and the latter 
will perform the act of consecrating me for the jour- 
neys I am to perform to the Sun. This, however, will 
not take place here, but I shall have to perform a 
journey, which will be to Uranus." 

CONSECRATION FOR THE JOURNEYS TO THE SUN. 

" Now begins my journey." During the same, she 
again most assiduously exhorted to repentance and con- 
version, and amongst other sentences said the follow- 



I38 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

ing: "Every person sins every day in words and 
thoughts, for of works I will not even speak. I am 
incapable to impress it upon you how rigidly God 
regards sin," She then enumerated a series of sins 
which man commits, and then exclaimed : " Seek that 
ye be saved with fear and trembling." At the same 
time she remarked, however, what had already been 
stated by her on a former occasion, that no one for 
that reason ought to discontinue his labors and busi- 
ness, but by all means prove faithful therein. 

" Now I have arrived on the spot. I am upon an 
acclivity, upon which stands the most magnificent 
temple; in this I shall be consecrated for my journeys 
to the Sun. Renz too is already present." Then she 
remained quite still for several minutes; her features 
were observed to indicate great humility. " The con- 
secration for my journeys to the Sun is past; Renz has 
retired, but my guides still remain with me. Renz 
suddenly recognized me and called me by my Christian 
name ; how friendly and affectionately he demeaned 
himself towards me, I cannot sufficiently tell you, and 
the words he pronounced over me it is impossible to 
repeat after him. He also gave me to drink of a very 
invigorating and refreshing water. Although I am 
here but according to the spirit, and essentially cannot 
drink, I yet enjoy spiritually the sensation and taste 
thereof, as if I actually had drank." 

" To-morrow, precisely at noon, I shall perform my 
first journey into the Sun. Scoffers at the Word of 
God, and disparagers of the divine truths, do not 
admit. Do you know the injunction of the Redeemer 
of the world ? ' Give not that which is holy unto the 
dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.' God 
employs in behalf of mankind all possible and innu- 
merable ways and means to bring them to salvation, 
but they will not yield, and it is, my guides say, His 
earnest desire to see them saved. Think only what a 
great responsibility the thoughtless scoffers and de- 
spisers of the grace of God incur. I speak not of my 
own accord, but the words only laid in my mouth by 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 39 

guides I have to utter. In Eternity I shall hunt those 
who have heard me, as well as those who, when my 
disclosures shall have become public, decry me as a 
fanatic and an imposter, and ask them whether I spoke 
the truth or not ? I am assuredly convinced that those 
who are damned will give me the testimony that I 
have given too mild a description of their state ; where- 
as, also those who are blessed, will exclaim that I have 
said but too little of theirs. Be the whole submitted 
to Him who judges rightly !" 

FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

On the 30th of December, at half-past eleven a. m., 
after going asleep she crossed both her hands. When 
the clock struck twelve, both her guides appeared to> 
her, whom she received with the greatest serenity and 
affection. She had hardly conversed with them for a 
minute, when she said: "I require eighteen minutes 
ere I reach the Sun, and now, this very minute, my 
journey commences." Six watches were laid down, and 
when the time fixed had expired to the second, she 
declared that she was in the Sun. 

During her journey thither she moved her lips con- 
tinuously, because she conversed with her guides, and 
turned her head alternately to the right and to the 
left. She said : " It appears to me as if all the con- 
stellations of the firmament were in motion. I hear 
at a distance, in various directions, nothing but music 
and singing." 

" Now my second guide begins to speak, and says : 
' We that are blessed cannot rejoice enough, but the 
damned feel their torments, and they are unfortunate 
for this reason in a higher degree, because the sound 
of joy penetrates to the lowest Hell. At the thought, 
and whilst they accuse themselves and others, that they 
might be equally happy ; they now say : " but we, 
deeming ourselves wise, have become fools, and missed 
the right road entirely." The time of rejoicing and en- 
joyment last continually, for in a state of bliss there 
is no night whatever.' " 



I4O VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" Now my brother begins again to speak ; his voice 
to-day is very strong and persevering. ' Tell your 
fellow-inhabitants of the Earth that you have now be, 
commissioned to tell them when Jesus Christ, the So 
of the Most High, was born; namely, 1835 years ago; 
consequently, three years earlier, and not on the 25 Li 
of December, as you are in the habit of reckoning, 
but on the 30th of December, in the morning between 
three and four o'clock; this is the very hour, clay, 
month and year." After a short pause she exclaime * : 
" Now I am in the Sun !" The joy amongst those that 
had laid down their watches, was extremely great, and 
every one was surprised how it could be possible, as 
the eighteen minutes had elapsed to a point. She then 
immediately continued to speak as follows : " The 
Sun is an uncommonly large body; if there was none 
but the Sun, God would have room enough, not only 
for those who, since God peopled the World have 
lived, but there will also be plenty of room for those 
who will yet follow, and if the World should yet stand 
for thousands of years, so say my guides. " 

" The climate in the Sun is more than refreshingly 
and pleasantly warm. We inhabitants of the Earth be- 
lieve the Sun to be a real ball of fire, which he by no 
means is. Beyond the Sun are still millions, nay 
an unaccountable number of Stars, which are always 
visible; in one of them is the city of God, but 
this is also a sun." After a short pause she said : 
"I have asked my brother the name of the Sun con- 
taining the city of God, to which he has replied, not in 
a tone of anger, but great seriousness : ; This behooves 
neither you nor your fellow inhabitants _of the Earth 
to know ; come here first in spirit and soul/ Now I 
approach the city, into -which I shall this day be con- 
ducted. The cry of jubilee, singing and music which 
I hear near me, humble me before the great, nay sur- 
passingly great majesty of God. The walls" glisten 
as if they were strewed over with pure dust of gold. 
The city into which I am led, is called Jasa. The 
buildings are very high, as well as the windows, re- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I4I 

fleeting rays of beauty ; this city is of great extent ; 
the street through which I am conducted, is again not 
broad, but beautiful. In this city there are a great 
many angels from the fountain-head, and such as also 
came over from our World; I hear delightful and ex- 
quisite instrumental and vocal music, but perceive 
neither the musician nor the singers, but observe well 
a peculiar shouting and exulting among the blessed, 
and see them wander about in the city. Now I have 
passed through the city ; the out-let gate is as beautiful 
as the one through which I entered." 

" Now I am conducted into an immensely long and 
broad edifice, situated without the city, inhabited by 
infants conceived in the womb of their mothers, al- 
though they came to the World still-born, to those 
of the age of one year. Those have also already their 
teachers, and nurses or governesses; a majority of 
them skip and jump about; the fewest are seated, but 
upon what beautiful little stools ! They are not larger 
than they well could be, according to their respective 
ages if they were still alive, and all of them have a 
small crown upon their heads. Infants of the highest 
and greatest rank on Earth enjoy in the other world 
not the least preference over the lowest of those that 
are here present, for God loves them all equally alike. 
Their little garments are as bright as the Sun, their 
breasts and shoulders are adorned with most graceful 
bows of rose-colored ribbons, resembling small roses 
more than bows. Children of a larger growth and 
more advanced in age that have come here, wear 
scarfs around their loins, and are more perfect, I 
might say more corpulent. A more delightful and 
charming aspect no one can imagine than that offered 
by such little blessed spirits, skipping and jumping 
about amongst each other, and rejoicing in such num- 
bers ; and how great the love and harmony that reigns 
amongst these children." 

" My guides also direct my attention to children 
being present here of all religious denominations, na- 
tions, tongues and languages ; in one word, from every 



I4 2 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

region of our whole Globe. They tell me further, that 
here I behold by far but the fewest number of child- 
ren of this description, there being a great many more 
such buildings and halls in the Sun, where such child- 
ren reside." She then made a pause, and it was ob- 
servable that she was discoursing with her guide. 
Then she resumed of her own accord : " I have asked 
my guide whether the size of the children remains 
what it is, or whether they also grow; to which he 
replied : ' You might in regard to this have taken the 
hint from me, having on Earth lived but to the age of 
six years, and somewhat more than five months.' The 
children grow in regard to their mental faculties, as 
well as in body, and arrive at the same stature which 
they would have attained had they remained on Earth. 
Their spirits and souls are here completely cultivated, 
but this is to be well kept in mind, that children re- 
main here without sin, and improve much quicker than 
if they had remained on Earth. They retain their 
nurses until, according to the World's reckoning, they 
have attained their ninth year." 

" In a state of bliss there reigns a system of which 
no mortal can form conception. The children are 
also very often visited by the created angels, and 
frequently by the blessed that have long been here; 
these, as it were, have the superintendence of the 
whole. My guide tells me that the blessed are not all 
gifted alike, some possessing talents in one, and others 
in another branch ; that God makes use of the one for 
this service, and another for one different; although 
all possess information in regard to everything, yet 
that the difference in this respect is very great, this 
being required by the wisdom and government of 
God. Soon I shall have to quit this hall. Tell, I beg 
of you, those parents, whose children die early, that 
they are by no means to mourn or fret after them, be- 
cause they are eternally happy. If parents and others 
could but cast a glance into the empire of the children, 
they would certainly no longer complain. But, my 
guides tell me, that God cannot permit this, for this 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I43 

reason, because every one to whom this favor be 
granted would become quite unfit for our World. And 
just as painful would it be for the survivors, if a 
spouse, parent or child, or any other individual with 
whom they were more particularly or closely con- 
nected in this World, should be shown to them in the 
first or second degree of the damned. These would 
not only enjoy no longer any rest neither day nor 
night, but fall a prey to diseases of the mind. ,, 

" Now my return begins ; this will be more rapid 
than my journey hither; in fourteen minutes I shall 
have performed the same. To-morrow, precisely at 
half-past ten o'clock, I shall undertake my second 
journey into the Sun, when an empire of children 
will be shown to me, who are in their second and third 
years. In the region visited by me to-day, I see no 
mountains. The surface is most beautifully green, in- 
tersected by innumerable walks ; this place serves the 
dear infants, who already more than enjoyed them- 
selves in the hall, as a change of amusement. ,, 

SECOND JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

On the 31st of December she performed her second 
journey to the Sun, at half-past ten o'clock in the fore- 
noon. When she had fallen asleep, she commenced 
speaking: " This journey will last again eighteen min- 
utes, and I shall have to perform it alone, until I shall 
have passed the first degree of the unhappy. A stray 
spirit from the first degree of the unhappy wanted to 
accompany me, but as soon as my guides appeared, he 
went back of his own accord. My guides have enter- 
tained me by an agreeable conversation, which I am 
not to withhold from you, and although what I am 
going to say will not prove very acceptable to a number 
of those present, I have to tell you again, repent and 
turn to the Lord, your God! For I can tell you, that 
even if a person dies happy, he is seldom directly re- 
moved to the Sun. Let no one speak a useless word ; 
let every one love his fellow man faithfully ; do not re- 
joice if any of your fellowmen should meet with mis- 



144 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

fortune; curse none, even* if he should have ever so 
heavily offended against you. I cannot sufficiently 
charge you what a difference it makes if any one leaves 
this World with an unreconciled heart; such a one 
certainly never becomes blessed. Every virtue has in 
the crowns of the blessed its own pearl. To tell and 
propagate lies is a very great sin; he that lies puts 
himself on a level with Satan. To overreach any one 
in trade is equal to theft. To rob him secretly, by 
cunning and force is sin/' 

" I cannot sufficiently enforce it of what moment 
fidelity is in all our actions, for every one will be 
judged according to the degree of fidelity exhibited by 
him in regard to all that was entrusted to him in this 
World. Of idolatry there is an infinite variety, yet 
still the same; he who loves and adores any object 
more than God, commits a great sin." 

" Now I am in the Sun. How delightful is it to be 
here ! My guides tell me, that this Sun obtains its 
light from another Sun, much larger and millions of 
miles further distant from the Sun which illuminates 
the Earth, and adds that God remains unfathomable 
and inscrutable to the most blessed of spirits, for there 
is no end of His empires. In that Sun, from which 
the Sun of our universe derives his light, I shall not 
come, my guide tells me, but that I shall reach that 
Sun in which is the New Jerusalem, and that then 
there shall be an end to my journeys, nor should I 
absolutely be capable to bear more. Now I am per- 
mitted to look down upon the Earth , if my guides did 
not so distinctly point her out to me, I should not per- 
ceive her at all, for she appears to me like a large 
point of the bigness of a middle-sized pin's head ; 
and yet, say my guides, are crimes committed thereon 
so great, that they rise to the highest Heavens/' 

" Now I am conducted into a hall, in which children 
are from two to three years of age. I am informed 
that of halls for this age, there are a great many more 
in the Sun. Those children, who from their birth to 
the third year come directly in the empire of the child- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I45 

ren ? immediately continue to progress. But children 
may die from the fourth to the ninth year of their age, 
who are not always removed amongst the class of 
children of their age; for those there are again dif- 
ferent institutions, where they are educated. The 
whole of them, however, gradually grow up to the 
same destination. The glory amongst these children 
is already somewhat greater than with those who have 
not yet completed their first year," 

" My guides tell me, the Mother of Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God, has the first and highest supervision 
over these children ; that she is a queen over the same, 
yet that she too receives her behests from the throne 
of God. My guides yet add, that if all the hosts of 
Heaven stood congregated together, they would be un- 
able to express in the most remote sense the inscrutable 
greatness of God." 

When she had said this she uttered a sigh, and soon 
after continued as follows : " Children in a state of 
bliss generally receive other names, appropriate to the 
blessed ; they are also constantly visited by both the 
created angels and the spirits of the happy defunct 
here present, for to all of them they are a source of the 
greatest delight. Besides this I shall perform sixteen 
more journeys to the Sun, but during the same I shall 
not have much more to state than what I have said 
already, only that the glory and magnificence which I 
shall behold will each time be greater, and as I shall 
daily perform two and three, nay one day five jour- 
neys thither, my respective stays in the same will not 
be of long duration. This night at nine o'clock I shall 
perform my third journey to the Sun; during my pas- 
sage thither I shall yet have to give some serious ad- 
monition relative to particular sins. I am already on 
my return. Ere I commence my third journey, I shall 
lock myself up in my chamber, and in private address 
a prayer to God ; during that time disturb me not." 

THIRD JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

On the same day, the 31st of December, at half-past 



I46 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

eight o'clock in the evening, she went unexpectedly 
into her chamber, and bolted herself in, so that no one 
could enter. Everything remained quiet in the sitting- 
room, but through the key-hole she was seen on her 
knees in the attitude of praying, only now and then a 
sound being heard to escape her lips. Six minutes 
before nine she entered the room, immediately went 
to bed, and when the clock struck nine, she said: 
"Now my journey begins; I shall again require 
eighteen minutes to complete it; as soon as I shall 
have passed the first degree of the unhappy, I shall 
receive my guides." She remained still for a few 
minutes, and then resumed : " I pray you all, let no 
one put off his repentance until his death-bed, for 
such incur great danger. I dare not leave it unmen- 
tioned that the Moon too has its divisions, and if even 
a man is at once removed from hence directly into the 
Moon, he will still have to pass all the gradations 
therein, if his progress is not at once forward, ere he 
can be promoted to a higher state of felicity. The 
higher one rises, the happier he becomes. The same 
is likewise the case in the Stars." 

She made a short pause, but soon after said : " Now 
I am up. To-day I am introduced to the abodes of 
such children as are in the eighth and ninth years of 
their age. These are the last children that are yet 
under the care of female nurses, but they remain under 
tuition of instructors, who again have their teachers. 
My teachers say, that although they are also teachers, 
they are also notwithstanding their instructors, re- 
ceiving lessons from the created angels. Until any 
one that came hither be removed from the Sun into a 
higher state of bliss, a considerable period of time 
elapses, the number of gradations in the Sun being a 
great many. The inhabitants of the Sun are able and 
permitted to make visits, having previously received 
permission, extending as far as the New Jerusalem, 
but they neither can nor dare take up their abode there 
forever, inasmuch as the order of the Deity is not to be 
transgressed in the least. As it respects professors 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. I47 

of the Word of God, and in the schools, who came 
from the Earth into the Sun, and of whom several 
were conducted to a state of felicity on account of the 
zeal and fidelity in the service of the Lord, they enjoy 
extraordinary privileges ; and the same is also the case 
with those rulers that were particularly well disposed 
and pious, whether their dominions were large or 
small. But what a judgment, responsibility and con- 
demnation those professors incur who are lazy, live 
immorally, and prove unfaithful in the service of their 
Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, is, as my guides say, 
inexpressible, for the souls of all those who perish by 
their faults, whether it be by their conduct, doctrine 
etc., are all demanded from them; imagine, say my 
guides, the charges against them in the regions of the 
unhappy and the damned ! The duties incumbent on 
rulers involve great difficulty. I am ashamed of my- 
self, that ere now I had such little knowledge and so 
few ideas concerning so many things, and that so 
much did hitherto not even enter my mind. ,, 

" My return will soon commence. The degree of 
bliss enjoyed by the children is commensurate with 
their ages. Into a city I shall this day not be con- 
ducted, but into a very large building and into a hall. 
This contains a great many; the children are therein 
divided into classes, and have many teachers, and I 
also perceive here books of instruction. The hall 
excels in beauty, and the appearance of the children 
with their crowns and in their attire, is more than 
splendid ; and I am entirely at a loss how to admire 
that love and harmony which reigns amongst them. 
Around the building there are gardens and other open 
squares. : ' 

CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNEYS INTO THE SUN. 

As it respects the remaining fifteen journeys into 
the Sun, that which can be related of each particular 
journey will be stated in the following; it must, how- 
ever, be generally remarked here, that the further she 
proceeded, the more delightfully she described the 



I48 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

glories of felicity. Very often she admired the infinite 
universe of God, of which she repeatedly spoke as 
follows : " Looking again afterwards from the Sun, 
it is in regard to the Stars, the same as if during a clear 
night we on Earth were contemplating the firmament.; 
only with this great difference, that from the Sun, the 
Stars are also visible in the time of day, because in the 
blessed Eternities night no longer ensues. Here it is 
much lighter and clearer than when on Earth we have 
the purest day and most unclouded sky; on Earth 
there is but twilight compared with the clearness that 
prevails on the Sun. The atmosphere is lighter and 
more rarified ; a cloud never obscures it, and a change 
in the air never happens. Its temperature is not de- 
bilitating nor oppressive, but the air is full of the most 
delightful odors. In the Sun there are also mountains, 
but which are not very high, yet of the most pleasing 
form. Trees are here in abundance, on many of which 
I have observed the most delicious fruits. Forests 
and rivers are also in the Sun, but animals I per- 
ceive none. My guides tell me, that if I were to visit 
the Sun and behold everything in detail that would 
be shown me, and according to the manner of man, I 
should require many thousand years for the purpose. " 

FOURTH JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

"I am this day led into the city, which bears the name 
of the Son of God. In the meeting hall of the same, 
where the children are from four to five years of age, 
I see the mother of our Saviour, seated as upon an 
altar; her crown and garments are quite majestic; I 
can hardly look upon her for clearness and glory; her 
crown is adorned with three strings of the most 
precious pearls. My guides tell me that it is not owing 
to the part of having born the Son of God, the Al- 
mighty, that she enjoys this high state of felicity, but 
that from the time of His conception and most tender 
infancy, she felt convinced that He was no common 
human being ; that there was actually something Divine 
in Him, and that she remained undaunted until the 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL I49 

end of her life in her humility, fidelity and faith to- 
wards Him, and in the observance and keeping of his 
commandments. My guides tell me, that if God makes 
use of a person for the execution of great deeds, it 
gives him not the least advantage in regard to his sal- 
vation, if he like the lowest, does not become truly 
repentant and neglects to turn with all his heart and 
soul to the Lord his God; but that those, who at the 
same time are unmindful of the ways of God, prepare 
themselves a great judgment. My guides tell me also, 
that the conception of our Saviour will remain a secret 
to all Eternity, both to the created angels, and those 
that died happy. The curse, ' I will greatly multiply 
thy sorrow ; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children/ 
had no reference to the mother of our Saviour, for He, 
as David says, ' was not shapen in iniquity, nor in sin 
did His mother conceive Him. " 

FIFTH JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

" I am this day conducted into a magnificent garden ; 
the inclosure around the same, and the gates into it, 
are exceedingly beautiful. This garden is crowded 
with angels ; there are also a number of children here. 
All the paths are, however,, narrow again; of trees 
there is no abundance, but of flowers there is; these 
exude a scent so delightful and strong, that I am, as 
it were, overcome" thereby. Into a hall I shall not 
come this day, but into a marvelously beautiful city, 
whose appellation is Noha. I pass again through a 
garden, which is exceedingly beautiful ; if an invigorat- 
ing water was not given me by my fellow-guide Goelz, 
I should become too weak. My brother has during 
my journeys into the Stars reminded me of the charms 
I would find in the Sun, but he has told me by far the 
least, for everything is much handsomer and more 
magnificent than he has stated." 

SIXTH AND SEVENTH JOURNEY INTO THE SUN. 

She again described everything as much more splen- 
did than before ; met with pastor Renz and one of the 



I50 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

elect whom she knew on Earth, and was taken to the 
children of six and seven years. She again saw the 
mother of the Son of God, apparently seated upon a 
throne, and finally imparted energetic admonitions, 
calling upon all to exercise the strictest vigilance. 

THE EIGHTH AND NINTH JOURNEYS INTO THE SUN. 

On these she was conducted to no children, but to 
old persons, who had grown up to the enjoyment of 
the felicities in the Sun, but did not describe them 
more explicitly. She remarked that the exceedingly 
great glory, music and singing which she witnessed, 
were almost insupportable to her, being much weak- 
ened thereby, and well needing the aid of her two 
guides, and that she would have to succumb, if not 
strengthened from above, on account of the super- 
abundant glory prevailing there. Before she awoke 
from her ninth journey, she said: " To-morrow I 
must make five journeys into the Sun ; the first will 
begin at nine, the second at twelve, the third at three, 
the fourth at five, and the fifth at seven o'clock." She 
was then asked, if the two journeys of to-day, having 
weakened her so much, how she would fare on five 
journeys ; to which she replied : " God, who has se- 
lected me for this, will grant me the necessary strength ; 
I am not uneasy on that score." 

TENTH, ELEVENTH, TWELFTH, THIRTEENTH AND FOUR- 
TEENTH JOURNEYS INTO THE SUN. 

The whole of them consisted in repeated accounts 
of recurring glory and beauties, the last ever excelling 
the former ; she came during the same to no more 
children, but to adults and created angels, and extolled 
their constantly-increasing love, harmony, and content- 
ment. Amongst other things she stated the existence 
on the Sun of two small mountains, serving rather 
as an ornament to the environments, having perceived 
no larger ones. Cities, gardens, and the open places 
excelling everything in marvelous beauty; of these 
she said ; " Refrain from asking me to make terres- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 151 

trial comparisons; it would be impossible for me." 
During one of these journeys two doctors of medi- 
cine were present, one of whom caused this absurd 
question to be put to her : whether the damned have 
also horns and feet like goats. After a short pause, 
she answered : " The damned which I saw looked 
abominable, but with horns and feet like goats, I have 
perceived none. Their forms are more than loathsome. 
Let him, who caused this question to be put to me, 
well beware that he, by his own experience, may not 
become acquainted with those of the third degree, for 
his fate would then be most deplorably unfortunate/' 
As often as she fell asleep, her form assumed a 
clearer and more supernatural appearance, which be- 
came more so the more her. weakness increased. 

FIFTEENTH, SIXTEENTH, SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHT- 
EENTH JOURNEYS INTO THE SUN. 

During these journeys she came upon a mountain, 
which was not very high, into several gardens and 
cities. The following are her statements. " I again 
see everything much more perfectly than I did before. 
Of angels from the fountain-head, there are many 
present, and the name of each stands on his back with 
more than brilliant characters in gold, a distinction not 
possessed by those who came from the Earth, being a 
particular one, which they also have on their crowns. 
My guides tell me that it is the chief office of these 
angels to bring the happy defunct who attain directly 
from the Earth a higher state of bliss. Those that 
are at once taken from the Earth into the Sun, or 
into the New Jerusalem, are even brought with music 
and songs but that of these, generally speaking, ex- 
cepting children, the number consists in but very few ; 
that at the sight of these the Sun resounds with hosan- 
nas and rejoicings. The blessed spirits which I meet 
with on these journeys, that have come hither from 
the Earth, reflect a sunny ray from their eyes, which 
is also generally the case with the created angels, but 
in a still higher degree." 



152 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" I acknowledge freely, that the glory, music and 
singing which I witness, are almost insufferable to me, 
and that if not previously strengthened for my jour- 
neys into the New Jerusalem, I would be totally unable 
to support the same. That love, harmony, and con- 
tentment, and the friendly conversations which prevail 
between the created angels and those that came from 
the Earth, I can by far not extol enough; the latter 
receive instructions from the created angels. Here 
it may be said with the greatest truth that this is a 
real brother and sisterhood. Let no soul imagine, that 
amongst the blessed any act of infidelity, of self-con- 
ceit, or of superciliousness, can in the remotest sense 
find place; here everything is clear and pure. My 
guides tell me, that anything like deceit absolutely 
can and dare not obtain with the blessed, from the 
lowest to trie highest degree; that every one is not 
only satisfied with his own felicity, but that he also is 
fully convinced that what he is, he is merely from pure 
grace and mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ; that 
every one deems himself more than blessed, and that 
already the presentiment of the certainty of further 
promotion increases" their felicities more and more. 
Blessed spirits are here of all religious denominations, 
tongues and languages, among which children are not 
alone to be understood. My guides say, the Sun is 
not empty, but there will still be room for innumerable 
millions. " 

" The heavenly bodies beneath the Sun all receive 
their light from the Sun which illuminates the Earth. 
We believe, when we contemplate the firmament dur- 
ing a clear night that the Stars nearly all stand at an 
equal height, but this is far from being the fact, for 
they stand far, very far from each other ; of those 
which stand beyond the Sun, but the very fewest are 
visible from the Earth." 

CONSECRATION FOR THE JOURNEYS INTO THE NEW 
JERUSALEM. 

During one of her last journeys to the Sun she 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 53 

once said, that on the 7th of January, but not before 
eight o'clock, she would perform a journey, on which 
she would be consecrated for the journeys which she 
would be permitted to make to the New Jerusalem. 
That day she remained mostly out of bed, conversed 
much with her relations and those who visited her, 
but took very little nourishment the whole day, com- 
plained of no particular feebleness, but remained al- 
ways in a good humor. It did not quite want six 
minutes to eight, when, unexpectedly to every one, 
she fell asleep. The moment the clock struck eight, 
her guides appeared. 

She exhorted every one in general most fervently 
to love God and their neighbors, as well as to be 
truly humble and charitable to all that are poor and 
indigent. Then she called upon every one present to 
address a silent prayer to God in consideration of her 
consecration, saying : " This is the last that will take 
place; for the ensuing journeys I shall be consecrated 
by a servant of God, namely, John Arndt. Now I am 
up upon a mountain, called Golgotha, on which stands 
nothing but a temple. During this consecration, two 
created angels also appear besides my two guides as 
witnesses , before my introduction into the temple, a 
more than refreshing water is handed me to drink of 
by the created angels. " 

After a silence of seven minutes, she said : " Now 
my consecration is past. Arndt appeared at once, and 
without my taking notice, also withdrew. With what a 
divine clearness, glory, and crown on his head he ap- 
peared ; with what a high dignity and benign words he 
blessed me, it is impossible for me to express ; could 
you but have heard a single word, you would have 
dropped. Notwithstanding this, Arndt showed nothing 
but affection and affability towards me and the four 
witnesses, the thought then occurred to me, if the ser- 
vants of God are so dignified and glorious, how much 
more must God Himself be ! The two created angels 
laid their hands upon me and pronounced a short bene- 
diction over me, ere they retired. " 



154 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

" I have asked my two guides, whether I was then 
actually worthy of such favor and grace; to which 
they replied : 'If God deems you worthy to receive 
it, you will have to compose yourself, but never ele- 
vate yourself for that reason above your fellowmen, 
but continue to cherish humility in faith, love, and 
hope ; God will finish and terminate all with glory.' " 

Having remained silent for five minutes, she said: 
" My journey is accomplished, and my guides have left 
me." When she awoke her features retained traces 
of peculiar gladness, yet united with seriousness, but 
which gradually disappeared the more she returned to 
a state of wakefulness. She then conversed for two 
hours in addition with those that were present, ac- 
companied their voices in singing hymns, and then 
demanded that the faithful might stay a while longer 
with her. 

JOURNEYS TO THE NEW JERUSALEM. 

Of these she performed twelve, the events of which 
must also be related collectively, because her state- 
ments were mostly of the same tenor. To accomplish 
a journey thither, she required thirty minutes, but to 
return but eighteen, because the descent, she said, was 
much more rapid. 

She then said : " There exists not one city only 
in which God has a dwelling place like that which He 
has here. God possesses more such, which not only 
do not yield to this glory, but far surpass it. My guides 
tell me, that they themselves are not yet qualified to 
travel in order to behold these higher felicities, but 
that only those blessed spirits possess this faculty, who 
dwelt in the New Jerusalem; that they can go on 
journeys, but, that it is impossible for them to un- 
ravel the greatness of God because the creations of 
God continue to all Eternity. My guides tell me, that 
God has also His residence in a Sun, distant many, 
many millions of miles from that Sun which is visible 
to us. I again behold from this as many Stars as I 
have seen from the Earth and from the Sun I am en- 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 155 

tirely at a loss what, transported by a sense of ex- 
ceedingly great admiration I shall say of the infinite 
grandeur of God. O ! if only mankind would reflect 
on the greatness of God, according to the common 
understanding bestowed upon them by the Deity, and 
according to those objects which daily strike their 
vision, it would be hardly possible that an atheist could 
exist on this Earth. " 

Touching the New Jerusalem, she already on her 
first journey spoke of it as follows: "Had I not 
during my consecration been particularly strengthened 
for it, it would be impossible for me to bear all this 
glory, True, St. John has correctly depicted it in his 
Revelation, but it is far, far more transcendent. The 
city, on account of its immense size, cannot be over- 
looked in one view; it is quite four square, the length, 
and the breadth and the height of it are equal. Quite 
in the center of the city stands the dwelling of the 
Most High. The city has many and immensely great 
streets, which are not very wide, but the main streets 
are of considerable width. The sentinels do not stand 
at the entrance of the gates, but above, on the gates, 
for they are not here to protect the city, T^ut merely 
to serve as an ornament, because anything that de- 
fileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, can 
in no wise enter. " 

" During my twelve journeys but one gate is each 
time shown to me, whence, at no great distance, I am 
conducted into the city. The gates are composed of 
precious stones, yet not joined together, but, as it were, 
consisting of one mass." She then described the gates 
as follows ; namely, " the first is white as marble ; the 
second blue like the sky ; the third red as fire, but with 
a dark-red luster; the fourth green, like fresh-grown 
grass ; the fifth of an apparently light-red color, inter- 
mingled with seemingly small white stripes; the sixth 
of a still deeper red ; the seventh a deep yellow ; the 
eighth dark green; the ninth again of another green 
color, apparently subsiding into yellow ; the tenth not 
very unlike the latter color, but of a yellower tint ; the 



I56 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

eleventh more yellow than red; the twelfth violet, 
mixed as it were with dark-red stripes." She further 
expressed herself concerning it thus : " But how 
splendidly these gates shine I am incapable to express ; 
if the rays they reflect did not strike me at a distance, 
and if my guides had not given me an explanation of 
the various colors of the precious stones, it would 
have been beyond my power to say anything definite 
on the subject. In a mirror we may behold ourselves, 
but the luster of the precious stones is so great, that 
we cannot see ourselves therein; this would exactly 
appear to me as if looking into the Sun we expected 
to see our own figures as in the mirror.' ' 

'" The walls around the city are shining white, the 
buildings of the purest gold, like unto a clear mirror, 
and the streets are so likewise. The buildings are 
quite alike, save the one which is the habitation of 
God Himself, and forms a great exception; if I cast 
but a single glance upon the same, I feel as if I should 
sink down, and as if it were impossible to endure a 
sight of its brightness for but half a minute. The Sun 
himself compared with this more than transcendent 
clearness, is but a dark body, not even to mention the 
Stars. The windows in the buildings are so shining 
white, as to render their brilliancy almost insufferable. 
In addition, imagine also its height, and it must be- 
come evident that the whole united cannot but surpass 
all comprehension. The gates stand respectively on 
one side or wing, three and three together, yet not 
very close to, and at proportionate distances from each 
other, yet notwithstanding, can the dwelling-place of 
the Most High be seen from each gate. I am not led 
by my guides into its immediate vicinity. I see many 
of the servants walk about some of whom have been 
named to me by my guides." 

" Whilst I stood contemplating all the grandeur and 
glory before me, I entirely lost the sense of hearing; 
not until my attention was directed to it, I heard besides 
the harps, also a loud sound of trumpets ; it would be 
impossible long to bear this sweet and delightful music. 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 57 

In my last four journeys to the Sun I have also listened 
to the sounding of harps and trumpets, which was 
almost insufferable to me, but is by no means to be 
compared with that which now I hear. In all the 
streets of the city, I see an unaccountable number of 
angels, amongst whom I am told there are many that 
came from the Earth. Among several whose names 
were mentioned to me by my guide, I only know John 
Arndt, by whom I was consecrated for these journeys. 
Others, whom I formerly indicated as servants of God, 
and who were also promoted to a high state of bliss, 
"still required improvement, but enjoy now as great a 
share of felicity as Arndt." 

" Each door in the New Jerusalem has its own 
proper name written thereon in Hebrew ; their beauties 
having twice, as it were, enraptured me and excited 
my astonishment, I neglected to ask questions con- 
cerning the same. Around it there are nothing but 
gardens, divided off agreeably to the plan of the streets. 
Into a garden, however, I am not conducted, although 
I see in these gardens larger and thicker trees than 
in these heavenly bodies I have visited. Of flowers 
and shrubs I can also give no account, but well do I 
scent the sweetness of their odors, the whole air being 
full thereof. Our finest seasons of the day are, in com- 
parison with the brightness in which God dwells, like 
the darkness of night compared with the light at noon- 
day. No mortal would be able to endure but for a 
second the light thereof for he would suddenly drop 
into unconsciousness. How large the Sun is in which 
God dwells and what other cities it contains, I am 
unable to state. " 

During each respective journey to the Sun, as well 
as the New Jerusalem, she always exhorted in the 
most energetic manner to repentance and conversion, 
describing with inspiration the sublimity of felicity, as 
well as the state of the unhappy and the damned in 
all its horrors. When her twelfth and last journey 
into the New Jerusalem was accomplished, her guide 
Goelz took leave from her, concerning which she stated 



I58 VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 

the following: " My friend Goelz said to me: 'I be- 
seech you, by all that is divine and holy, whilst yet in 
your sinful World, to remain forever faithful to the 
triune God. Strive with all the powers of your body 
and mind, that you may one day come into our com- 
pany. True, it requires a renunciation of all that is 
sinful and displeasing to God but all this cannot be 
put in the least competition with the reward/ Ah, 
with what earnestness did he not say to me, remem- 
ber Eternity, the glorious felicities and a constant 
improvement/ " 

Having uttered a deep sigh, she said : " I regret 
but too deeply that I cannot express the words so 
energetically as they were pronounced by him ; his last 
words were : ' The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the 
Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be grac- 
ious unto thee ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon 
thee and give thee peace. Amen/ How great is the 
love, how innocent the looks which he regards and 
casts back upon me, whilst he leaves me. My first 
guide tells me that he will not yet bid me farewell, but 
shall yet pay me several other visits, without, however, 
performing any more journeys with me, saying only, 
' My dear sister, the Almighty be with you ! Soon shall 
we see each other again/ " 

CONCLUSION. 

From her first guide she received several other 
visits, but journeys he did not perform with her any 
more. When this situation of hers drew to a termina- 
tion, she stated that she would fall but twice more 
into a cataleptic sleep, namely, in three and six months ; 
which proved true to the day and the hour. At the 
termination of the last sleep she said : " My guide 
tells me, that although he will still visit me frequently, 
yet he shall no longer render himself visible to me. 
When he took leave, he kissed me three times, and re- 
minded me of all he had told and shown me with em- 
phasis and great earnestness. His last words penetrated ; 
I can only repeat the following: 'Improve steadily 



VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL. 1 59 

in piety and the fear of the Lord, shun sin as you 
would the plague, for nothing is more contagious than 
sin ; men become not sinners at once, but sin increases 
in them with the strides of a giant. Lose not the 
crown that has been shown you, and endeavor with all 
the faculties of your mind one day to get into our com- 
pany, for here we are so happy, eternally happy/ 
Looking back upon me with the most tender look, as 
a brother he has left me suddenly/' 



JAN 18 1910 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 
lb MX) 



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